d had tears in his eyes, and
pressed my hand very warmly. It touched me too, for I felt that he
must think of his dear native country, which he has left for me.'"

CHRISTMAS AT OSBORNE.

Writing from Cowes, on Christmas Eve, in reference to the Christmas
festivities at Osborne in the last decade of the nineteenth century, a
correspondent says:--

"After transacting business the Queen drove out this afternoon,
returning to Osborne just as the setting sun illumines with its rosy
rays the Paladin Towers of her Majesty's marine residence. The Queen
desires to live, as far as the cares of State permit, the life of a
private lady. Her Majesty loves the seclusion of this lordly estate,
and here at Christmas time she enjoys the society of her children and
grandchildren, who meet together as less exalted families do at this
merry season to reciprocate the same homely delights as those which
are experienced throughout the land.

"This afternoon a pleasant little festivity has been celebrated at
Osborne House, where her Majesty, with an ever-kindly interest in her
servants and dependants, has for many years inaugurated Christmas in a
similar way, the children of her tenantry and the old and infirm
enjoying by the Royal bounty the first taste of Christmas fare. The
Osborne estate now comprises 5,000 acres, and it includes the Prince
Consort's model farm. The children of the labourers--who are housed in
excellent cottages--attend the Whippingham National Schools, a pretty
block of buildings, distant one mile from Osborne. About half the
number of scholars live upon the Queen's estate, and, in accordance
with annual custom, the mistresses of the schools, the Misses Thomas,
accompanied by the staff of teachers, have conducted a little band of
boys and girls--fifty-four in all--to the house, there to take tea and
to receive the customary Christmas gifts. Until very recently the
Queen herself presided at the distribution; but the Princess Beatrice
has lately relieved her mother of the fatigue involved; for the
ceremony is no mere formality, it is made the occasion of many a
kindly word the remembrance of which far outlasts the gifts. All sorts
of rumours are current on the estate for weeks before this Christmas
Eve gathering as to the nature of the presents to be bestowed, for no
one is supposed to know beforehand what they will be; but there was a
pretty shrewd guess to-day that the boys would be given gloves, and
the girls cloa