n, were all
called in to family prayers.

The devotions were led by Mr. Force, assisted by Le.

When they were concluded, Christmas presents were distributed by the
children of the family to all the negroes present, and sent by them to all
those who, from old age, infancy or illness, were unable to attend the
gathering.

When all the plantation servants had retired, with gratitude and gladness,
the family went in to breakfast, where they enjoyed a merry morning meal.

As soon as it was over, they retired to their chambers to get ready for
church.

And there each one, in his or her sanctuary, found some token of the
presence of Santa Claus to be first discovered and enjoyed in secret. All
were more or less valuable and attractive, but among so many presents, in
so large a family, but few may be noticed.

Mr. Force found a warm, crimson, cashmere dressing gown, the united gift
of his children; an embroidered silk smoking cap, from his wife; a pair of
beaded slippers, from Miss Meeke, and a Turkish chibouk and a can of
Turkish tobacco, brought all the way from beyond seas and kept for this
day, by Le.

Mrs. Force found a sealskin dolman--one of the first ever made in this
country--with muff and turban to match, from her husband; a satin
patchwork quilt, which had been the secret work of a year, from her
children; an embroidered hand screen, from Miss Meeke, and an elegant
ivory fan, brought from Canton, by Le.

Odalite received a "handy" edition of Shakespeare, in twelve small
volumes, bound in white vellum and silver and inclosed in a white morocco
case, with silver clasps, from her father; a small Bible, prayer book and
hymn book, bound in white velvet, with silver clasps and inclosed in a
hand case of white morocco, for church service, from her mother; a very
handsome and completely fitted workbox, brought all the way from Canton,
from Le.

Le himself received a very princely gift from his uncle, namely, a fine,
young horse of famous stock, with a handsome saddle and bridle, from his
aunt. These gifts were not exactly found in his chamber, only the letter
conferring them on his dressing table. A box of articles made by Odalite
during the three years of his absence--namely, six dozen white lambs' wool
socks, knit by her own fingers, and each pair warranted to outlast any
dozen pairs of machine-made hose; six ample zephyr wool scarfs, to be
used--if allowed--during the deck watches of the winter nights at sea;