her tears, at the idea of her staying in bed on Christmas-day, and, smiling, she kissed good-night to dear mamma, and while the smile was yet on her face, fell fast asleep.

CHAPTER VII.

CHRISTMAS MORNING AT LAST.

"Through the blue and frosty heavens,
Christmas stars were shining bright;
The glistening lamps of the great city
Almost matched their gleaming light;
And the winter snow was lying,
And the winter winds were sighing,
Long ago one Christmas night."

ESPITE the clouds of the preceding

evening, Alice L'Estrange's heart was

joyous and happy this morning. Her waking thought was, Oh! this is really Christmasday. And long ere the bright sun had risen, Alice stole softly into the nursery, but her old friend was fast asleep, so she only whispered softly, "Happy Christmas, nurse." Then on to her mamma's room Alice went; it was so dark on this December morning, she could hardly grope her way, and here again her voice met no response, still she was satisfied to open the door, and breathe her earnest, childish wishes for those parents. Now to Charlie's room;

he was sure to be awake, and so he was, for Alice had hardly opened his door when he echoed back her Happy Christmas.

"O Charlie, it is so dark, so very dark, though there are some stars shining, and I am sure I can see that the ground is still white with the snow. Charlie, do you think there ever was so much snow in England before?" said Alice, trying to look out of the window.

"Yes, Alice, there have been heavier snowstorms than this in England, but not for some years, I heard papa say so yesterday. But, Alice, why do you not go back to bed now? You must be so cold, and I am sure it is very early. Here is a match, I will light it and see what o'clock it is. Oh, it is dreadfully early, Alice, just guess the hour."

"Five o'clock, or four o'clock," replied Alice quickly.

"No, guess again, Alice?"

"Then it must be six, because that comes after five," said Alice laughing.

"Wrong again, Alice, it is half-past three, what do you say to that?”

"That I must go to bed again, Charlie."

"Yes, Alice, it would never do to get up so

early, go to sleep, and I will call you in good time."

"Oh! I could not go to sleep, but I will go back to bed. Good-bye, Charlie; we will see who will be up first," said Alice as she shut the door.

On entering her own room, Alice drew up the window blinds; so that she could watch the daylight coming, and then got into bed with a feeling that to go to sleep again was impossible. Many, many were the thoughts that passed through her mind, as she lay in bed all alone in that little room on this dark Christmas morning. As with all in childhood's happy years, Alice's first and happiest thoughts were of Christmas, that it had really come; Christmas that she had thought of and longed for during the past few months, it had come. "Two whole years since we have had a Christmas," Alice said aloud, and then remembering why it was that there had been no Christmas in her home last year, her thoughts wandered to that baby brother who had left them, as she pictured to herself that spot,

"Where a little headstone stood,

How the flakes were folding it gently
As did robins the babes in the wood."

And Alice wondered what baby was doing in Heaven, and if she should ever be good enough to go there too; and with this thought came back fresh and green to her memory all the events of the past evening-the hot and angry words-the broken box-her mamma's request-the motto,— and Alice repeated half aloud "A soft answer." "Is not easily provoked." Then came childhood's aspirations, and childhood's holier, purer thoughts, known to none save to that God to whom they are breathed.

The glorious sun arose and shone, not only on the white mantled earth, but into Alice L'Estrange's room, yet Alice welcomed not his beams, for she was fast asleep. Nurse had peeped in once, and seeing how tired the child looked, closed the door softly, so as not to disturb her, and was now telling Charlie that he should not do so either.

"But, nurse, it is all nonsense not to waken Alice, she will be dreadfully disappointed when she finds how late it is. You know we always go to mamma's room together. Alice cannot be so tired, for she was awake at half-past three this morning. Do let me call her just this once," urged Charlie.

"Very well, Master Charlie, if you think Miss