it
was placed--was dead. The spirit still lives, and, after it has freed
itself from the imprisoning flesh, is more beautiful than before, and
is susceptible of more perfect enjoyment in the pure atmosphere of
heaven.

CHRISTMAS AT THE COTTAGE.

Mrs. Dudley's children look forward to Christmas with many
anticipations of pleasure, for several weeks before it comes. They are
quite busy in preparing for it. Their mother is the repository of
their secrets, and assists them by her advice in making their
arrangements. Many important deliberations take place about mats,
pin-cushions, and bookmarks.

As the day approached, the children often expressed the wish that it
was here. A few days was a long time for them to wait. But time did
not hasten. The hours were just sixty minutes, and the minutes just
sixty seconds. The clock ticked on as usual. It was unmoved by all the
excitement, and never, for an instant, quickened its pace.

When Saturday came, their mother proposed that the presents should be
distributed that evening. She did not like to have the children wish
the Sabbath past, and on Monday morning there would be but little time
to make their arrangements before the hour for school. She knew they
would be quiet and happy if they had some new books to read, and
would be perfectly willing to lay aside other gifts till Monday.

Mary wished to decorate the parlour with evergreens. Mrs. Dudley sent
a man to get some for her. She and Willie arranged them in bunches and
wreaths. Eddie helped all he could, and was as happy as any of them.
In the afternoon their mother assisted them. She put the bunches made
of the delicate, feathery hemlock, and the dark glossy laurel, over
the windows, and suspended the wreaths where the bay-windows projected
from the room. Small branches of cedar and spruce were tastefully
arranged in vases, relieved by the rich, green leaves of the ivy, and
the bright, lively twigs of box.

The children wished for a Christmas tree, but the evergreens they had
were all too small for that purpose Mrs. Dudley suggested that the
hat-stand might be substituted. They were delighted, and immediately
busied themselves in adorning it with garlands. It proved quite
ornamental, and the pegs served a very useful purpose. Mary arranged
on some strips of white paper the words, "A merry Christmas." The
letters were made of the small leaves of the box, and were fastened on
with gum-arabic. These were placed