hich I have already spoken, served to
elicit one of our points of sympathy. Bound down by the iron chain of
necessity to that point of space occupied by my own land, and that point
of time filled by my own life, yet with a heart longing for acquaintance
with the beautiful distant and the noble past, I have ever loved the
creations of that art which furnished food to these longings; and as my
fortune has denied me the possession of fine _paintings_, I have become
somewhat noted in my own little circle for my collection of fine
_engravings_. Many of these have peculiar charms for me, from their
association, fancied or real, with some place or person that does
interest or has interested me. In the leisure of a solitary life, it has
amused me to append to these engravings a description of the scenes or a
narrative of the incidents which they suggested to my mind, and for
their association with which I particularly valued them. Annie was well
aware of the existence of these descriptions and narratives, and, with a
pretty despotism which she often exercises over those she loves, she
insisted that I should surrender them to her for the gratification of
the assembled party. One condition only was I permitted to make in this
surrender, and this was, that Mr. Arlington should also bring forth his
portfolio for inspection, and should describe the _locale_ of the scene
sketched, or relate the circumstances under which the sketches were
made. A pretty _ruse_ this, my gentle Annie, by which you furnished the
artist with an opportunity to display to others the talents which had
charmed yourself. In accordance with this compact, the drawings, with
their accompanying narratives, were produced, and received with such
approbation, that by the same sweet tyranny which drew them from their
hiding-places, we have been ordered to send this Christmas Guest to bear
the simple stories to other houses, with the hope that they may give
equal pleasure to their inmates.

CHAPTER II.

Merrily blazed the wood fire in the huge old chimney of the large parlor
in which we were accustomed to assemble in the evening, at Donaldson
Manor, and its light was thrown upon faces bright with good-humored
merriment, yet not without some touch of deeper and more earnest
feeling. That party would of itself have made an interesting picture.
There was Col. Donaldson, tall, gaunt, his figure slightly bent, yet
evincing no feebleness, his curling snow-white lock