ALICE L'ESTRANGE'S MOTTO.

window.

CHAPTER I.

THE BEAUTIFUL SNOW.

"The snow had begun in the gloaming,
And busily all the night

Had been heaping field and highway
With a silence deep and white.

"Every pine and fir and hemlock,
Wore ermine too dear for an earl;
And the poorest twig in the elm-tree
Was ridged inch deep with pearl."

T'S beautiful! is it not, mamma?" said
Alice L'Estrange, as she came into
her mamma's room, and stood at the

"What is so beautiful, Alice?" asked Mrs L'Estrange gently, as she closed the book she had been reading.

A

"The snow. O mamma! it's coming down now so fast and thick, and lying on the ground, all so soft and white!"

But as Alice said this, she caught a glimpse of her brother coming up the avenue; and left the room as hastily as she had entered it—for did not Charlie's holidays begin to-day, and had he not promised her to come back early?

"It is beautiful, Charlie! is it not?" asked Alice, as she stood at the hall door waiting, while Charlie scraped the snow off his boots.

"Yes, Alice. I think we are going to have a regular snow-storm to-day. I am so glad, for the last few winters we have had no snow, or only a shower; but it is grand to-day. Is it not, Alice?" "Yes, Charlie. What shall we do?"

"O Alice! I am so sorry; but I cannot stay at home this afternoon. I promised Dugdale and Fitzwilliam to go back to the Rectory. You know they are going home to-morrow to London to spend their holidays."

"What are you going to do, Charlie?" said Alice, looking disappointed.

66 Going to make a snow man, and to have some snow-balling."

66

Going to make a snow man! and to have some

snow-balling!" echoed Alice, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"Yes, Alice; go and ask mamma to let you come too;" and as Alice, without waiting to hear more, ran upstairs, Charlie called out-"Say you will put on your thick boots, and that I will bring you home safe," he added laughing.

But neither the promise of the thick boots, nor the assurance that Charlie would bring his sister home safe, could induce Mrs L'Estrange to allow her little girl to go to the snow-balling match. "For you know, Alice, it is all very well for boys, but the snow is too deep for you to walk; and besides, mamma would not like to see her little girl at a snow-balling match," added Mrs L'Estrange smiling.

Charlie knew by the slow way in which Alice came downstairs that the desired permission had not been granted. So when she came to the top of the flight of stairs which looked down to the hall, and, sitting down on the top step, said, "No, Charlie, mamma does not wish me to go," Charlie was considering what he ought to do.

"I am very sorry, Alice. I wish I had not promised to go back; but the boys will be waiting for me."

66 Oh no, Charlie. I am so glad you are going to make a snow man, and snow-ball each other," said Alice, as she wistfully looked out from the hall windows at the snow.

"But what shall you do, Alice? You said you had not got all your Christmas presents ready. Can you see about them to-day?" suggested Charlie, kindly wishing, before he went, to secure Alice some pleasure.

Alice thought for a minute, and then exclaimed suddenly

"Oh, I know now! This will be the daythe very day to do it!"

"O Alice! I am so glad you have thought of something. I'm off now."

But before he was off, Charlie took three steps at a time up to where Alice was sitting, and saying, "All right, Alice!" he kissed her. And this kiss brought Alice from the top step down to the hall door, with a happy heart, to watch Charlie setting off to the snow-balling match.

"Did he not go, Alice?" asked Mrs L'Estrange, as Alice came back looking so bright.

"Oh yes, mamma; but, mamma, you know I have not yet all my Christmas presents ready, and have not got one thing for Charlie. Could I not