re of a bank, and was
now unable to procure any of the comforts which his failing health
required; his only son had lately died, and the old man was now alone.
The one relic of his past wealth was a store of beautiful old china,
which it had been the happiness of his life to collect.

"You must go and call on him, Ella, and say that I want a piece of fine
old china for a present, but I cannot go out myself to buy it, and
cannot trust you, and I thought he might know of some one who is
breaking up a collection. If so, will he kindly choose a piece and send
me? Then you see, my dear, if he needs the money he can send me some of
his own china."

Ella did not know old Mr. Dudley, and felt rather shy and embarrassed
when she went to pay this call, and afraid of betraying her aunt's real
intention; but he put her so much at her ease at once, that instead of
running away directly she had delivered her message, she spent a long
time with him admiring his treasures. His old-fashioned courtesy pleased
Ella, and she readily promised to come again and tell him if her aunt
was satisfied with his choice of china, for he had undertaken the
commission, and Ella felt sure, from his manner, that he had understood
Mrs. Wilson's real intention, and intended to avail himself of it.

Ella had to pay several visits to the town before all her shopping was
finished; for there were presents to buy for the servants and nurse, and
decorations for the kitchen, and the parcel of gifts for her own family
to pack and send home; and all these matters took up so much time that
Christmas Day dawned before she had time for any regrets.

(_To be continued._)

[Illustration: THE OLD BRIDGE, LUCERNE.]

OUR TOUR IN NORTH ITALY.

BY TWO LONDON BACHELORS.

We are only a couple of young bachelors--almost "green"--but we enjoy
life greatly and appreciate art when we see it, so on our savings we
decided to see a bit of Italy, and the glorious paintings, buildings,
and picturesque street-corners for which that country is so justly
renowned.

We borrowed books from all our friends, and sought second-hand
bookstalls for every conceivable authority, and a month before our day
for starting we were so brimful of knowledge, that we decided to acquire
no more, but to depend on what we had already achieved.

How tedious the days before the one memorable day which should see us
off to Bale, and how alarming a cold in the head, caught by one of us
two da