ed the room. The green branches were fastened up over the windows and doors; and the holly, with its red berries, was twined into a wreath around the clock that stood on the mantle-piece, and one or two pictures that hung on the wall.

"Isn't Ellen smart ?" said Charley.

"Yes, indeed," his mother answered; "but can't you stay to supper? You've set the table, and got every thing ready, I see."

"No, I mustn't wait," she answered; "aunt will want me at home. Good-night. I'll see you all tomorrow."

"Good-night, dear; I'm very much obliged to you," said Mrs. Jones.

As soon as they had fairly started, Ellen said, "I'm very tired."

"I reckon those children plagued you half out of your life," said Harry.

"Not quite; but it was pretty hard work keeping Charley quiet. I had some idea of calling Mr. Austen once."

"That wouldn't have done much good. He never cares for what Austen says."

"Oh, well, he wasn't so very bad; I got on with him pretty well. I want to ask you something, Harry, and you mustn't want to know why. How many books of your own have you got?"

"None, except my school-books," he replied.

"Not one? Are you quite sure?”

"Yes, certain. I've got one or two of yours. Why, Ellen ?"

"Ah! I told you not to ask me that," she said, laughing. "But did you see George this morning?"

66

No, I didn't; was he over at our house ?"

“Yes; I meant to tell you, but he said he would find you if he could. He came over to invite all of us to go there to-morrow night. Tell Mrs. Jones about it, won't you?"

"What does he want us to go there for?"

"Why, it's to be a sort of a party, I believe; most of the neighbors are going. Tell them about it at your house; he wants them all."

"The children too ?"

"Yes, every body. You must go, Harry; I'll be there. I believe he said we must go about seven o'clock. But here we are. I'm very thankful for the ride;" and they shook hands warmly as they bade each other good-night.

CHAPTER XXI.

CHRISTMAS COME.

"Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes ?

"They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red-when it giveth his color in the cup-when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder."

WHEN Harry returned home he gave George's in

vitation to Mrs. Jones. The children were charmed with the idea of going to a party.

"I forgot to tell you," said Mr. Jones, "the 'squire came over yesterday, and asked me to come and bring you all."

"Oh, father, why didn't you tell us ?" said Mary. "Because I didn't think of it; but it's just as well; you've got time enough to think about it now."

Their interest and excitement were now divided between that and the great business of hanging up their stockings for the Christmas gifts. Harry knew nothing of the mysterious pleasure of that custom.

"Don't you hang up your stocking on Christmaseve?" asked Nannie.

"No, I never did," he replied; "what is it for ?" "Why, don't you know?" said the little girl, in amazement at his ignorance. "We hang them up here by the fireplace, and in the night Santa Claus comes down the chimney, and fills them all up full of good things."

"Pshaw! Nannie, what a baby you are!" exclaimed Charley. "Don't you know better than that?”

"Hush! don't tell Harry; he don't know," she said. "Oh, fiddlesticks! Harry ain't going to believe any such nonsense as that. It ain't any such thing. Mother puts the things in."

Nannie was very indignant because Charley had let out the secret; but her father pacified her by saying that Harry was too old to hang up his stocking.

"Then it don't make any difference," she said; "but