Harry loved his sister very dearly, but he was not inclined to "carolling;" and the repression and constraint were soon evident through all the conventional efforts to be "merry." It was the squire who finally hit upon the circumstance which tided over the evening, and sent every one to bed in a ripple of laughter.

For, when the piano was closed, he opened his eyes, and said, "Sophia, your mother tells me she has had a very nice Christmas present from the little maid you took such a liking to,--little Agnes Bulteel.

It is a carriage hap made of sheepskins white as the snow, and from some new breed of sheep surely; for the wool is longer and silkier than ever I saw." "Agnes Bulteel!" cried Charlotte.

"O Sophia! where are her last letters?
I am sure father would like to hear about Joe and the jolly-jist." "Joe Bulteel is no fool," said the squire warmly.

"It is the way around here to laugh a bit at Joe; but Joe aims to do right, and he is a very spirity lad.