dustry, if they would furnish the other materials. Soon
were heaps of flannel and other stout fabrics produced from her "Dorcas
closet," as she called it, in which her provisions for the poor were
laid up, in nice order; for even in our happy land does it hold true
that "the poor ye have always with you, and whensoever ye _will_ ye may
do them good," and kind Aunt Lucy was not one to neglect this duty. On
the day preceding Christmas, according to her principle of making as
many happy as possible, she had ordered a barrel of flour to be baked
into cakes and pies, and had distributed them, along with a turkey and a
bushel of potatoes to each, among all the poor families of the
neighborhood; and this was only one specimen of the numerous kindly acts
by which she drew together the hearts of all around her, and made them
realize the Christian brotherhood of man. Where there were children, she
made them happy by the present of a few penny toys; a very cheap
investment, yielding a large return of rapture! She could never deny
herself the pleasure of giving these little offerings of love with her
own hands, and wishing her poor neighbors a "Happy Christmas;" and on
this occasion she had learnt the destitution of a poor widow, who
struggled hard to support her young family and to maintain a decent
appearance, but who was now laid up with sickness, and unable to provide
clothing and fuel for herself and her little ones. Mr. Wyndham had
immediately sent her a load of wood, and his wife was now anxious to
furnish the necessary garments. The young girls were rejoiced to aid in
the good work, and soon all fingers were busy, and needles were in swift
operation; while the boys took turns in the entertainment of the sewers,
by alternately reading aloud from a pleasant book. Tom Green was an
excellent reader; his agreeable tones of voice made it a pleasure to
listen to him, and his clear articulation and varied expression added
greatly to the interest of the narrative. Why is it that this desirable
accomplishment, which promotes so much the happiness of the home
circle, is not more cultivated?

After dinner, Charlie Bolton proposed some games, as he said that quite
enough of industry and gravity had been put into the preparation, and he
feared the sunshine would not be properly made without the smiles,
jokes, and laughter spoken of in the receipt. "How do those lines of
Milton run, Ellen, in L'Allegro? my favorite piece--before the old
f