Year: 1875

We write of Christmas gambol-a
gambol which, if begun in fun, yet left
its lifelong mark on the life of more than
one we hope to introduce to our readers.
Time of innocent mirth and relation as
it is, there are often strange mysteries
brewed, as well as punch, by the side OF
the Yule Log, and there may be more
potent spirits while the fragrant fumes
are rising than the mixer thereof wots.
Very, very different III his aspect is
Christmas in the town, or the same time
honored old parsonage in the country
house. 1t is as he appears at the latter
we now wish to introduce him to our
readers so we will ask them for the
nonce to lose all idea of streets ankle
deep in snow or slush, or the same under
a sea of black mud aided by fogs and
smoke grimed walls TO make all things
desolate. Very different is Eldon Hall
in the midst of its trim lawns, fir girt
park, and copse of red-berlied hollies.
A decidedly Jolly place to spend your
Christmas at was Eldon Hall, and thither
we will at once take our readers, relying
on the privilege of old acquaintance
ship.


81 am not good at statistics" said
friend of ours, when asked how many
pipes he had filled and lighted that day.
For the same reason we decline to state
the exact year in which the events here
recorded took place.


1t was the evening preceding Christ
mas Eve that in. a somewhat remote
tower of Eldon Hall, which, by the way,
is most Elizabethan- looking structure,
with no end of turrets and corners gen
orally. Evelyn Crawford sat convers-
ing with Cicely Burnett. They were old
schoolmates, and the present evening
was their first meeting after a separation
of quite two years.


Really, Cis, " exclaimed the younger,
raising her dark gypsy-like eyes to her
companion, at the same time throwing
back mass Of jetty hair, that let loose
from its bands fell in masses over her
diminutive but beautifully formed neck
and shoulders Z" it is so jolly to have
you here all to myself again /; it seems
quite like old times, and / could fancy
myself back at Nine. Haut-Tous.


$50 cannot l." reioined her COM
panion, casting n glance round the ele-
gantly furnished apartment. 81 see but
little here to remind me of those bare
walls and the deal furniture save your
own dear self, and you are so altered in
everything save kindness TO your friend
that nothing but the old look can make
me think you are the same dear Eva we
used to call the little gypsy. But I must
not tell you all / think, or you will be-
come vain. "


"Nay, Cis dear, we will leave that
theme for another time. Now let me
hear some of your own adventures since
we parted, and how you liked France
and Italy"


"The daily round of toll a governess
has TO undergo would interest you but
little rather let me hear from you some
of the characters who are to come upon
the stage for our amusement during the
next few days. For us, who are doomed
to be lookers-on rather than players in
the game, it is at least some satisfaction
to be able to get glance behind the
scenes.


Cynical as usual, replied Evelyn
"but here, dearest, you must and shall
be an actor as well as Il spectator III all
that takes place.


$50 / know you would have it, love,
said Cicely, imprinting a kiss on her
companions brow "but even the will
of an heiress cannot command attention
to a needy and almost unfriendly girl"


"It shall at least in Eldon Hall, said
the beautiful and somewhat willful
Evelyn "but now for our programme
tomorrow we have a grand meet of
Forwardshire hounds here, and L have
told papa you must have old Swallow,
unless, indeed, you would prefer riding
my pei Excelsior. Swallow, they all
say, is much the better hunter, but he is
neither so pretty nor 80 gentle as my
bonny little bay"


"How charming ~ said Cicely "then
/ shall have real hunt and / daresay
ride a great big, ugly, raw-boned hunter
worth ever so much money. Well, Eva,
must not disgrace him if can help it;
they say I rode well as a girl when
when had mean ere was turned on
the world an orphan. Forgive me, dear;
it's not often / give way in this fashion"
And Cicely seemed for time quite over
come by her feelings.


"There, / am better now," exclaimed