when our
little Mistress Merciless bade us good-by, and went away forever, we
knew that it were better so; for she was lonely here, and without her
that far-distant country whither she journeyed were not content.
Though our hearts were like to break for love of her, we knew that it
were better so.

The tale is told, for it were not seemly to speak all the things that
are in one's heart when one hath to say of a much-beloved child whose
life here hath been shortened so that, in God's wisdom and kindness,
her life shall be longer in that garden that bloometh far away.

About me are scattered the toys she loved, and the doll Beautiful hath
come down all battered and grim,--yet, oh! so very precious to me, from
those distant years; yonder fareth the Queen of Sheba in her service as
handmaiden unto me and mine,--gaunt and doleful-eyed, yet stanch and
sturdy as of old. The garden lieth under the Christmas snow,--the
garden where ghosts of trees wave their arms and moan over the graves
of flowers; the once gracious arbor is crippled now with the
infirmities of age, the Siege of Restfulness fast sinketh into decay,
and long, oh! long ago did that bird Joyous carol forth his last sweet
song in the garden that was once so passing fair.

And amid it all,--this heartache and the loneliness which the years
have brought,--cometh my Christmas gift to-day: the solace of a vision
of that country whither she--our little Mistress Merciless--hath gone;
a glimpse of that far-off land of Ever-Plaisance.

THE PLATONIC BASSOON

All who knew the beautiful and accomplished Aurora wondered why she did
not marry. She had now reached the mature age of twenty-five years,
and was in full possession of those charms which are estimated by all
men as the choicest gifts a woman can possess. You must know that
Aurora had a queenly person, delightful manners, an extensive
education, and an amiable disposition; and, being the only child of
wealthy parents, she should not have lacked the one thing that seemed
necessary to perfect and round out her usefulness as a member of
society.

The truth was, Aurora did not fancy the male sex. She regarded men as
conveniences that might come handy at times when an escort to the
theatre was required, or when a partner in a dance was demanded, when a
fan was to be picked up, or when an errand was to be run; but the idea
of marrying any man was as distasteful to Aurora as the proposition to
marry a hat-r