to all the treasures of life, while at the same time it extends the sources of our existence? I likewise observe with satisfaction that men of liberal education gladly turn to those in whom they perceive real interest for general science, and by whom they feel themselves understood.

Lennartson, who accompanied us on these scientific rambles, by his own great knowledge, and by his manner of eliciting the explanation of others, enhanced our enjoyment in no small degree. And how esteemed and beloved he is every where! Flora, it is true, listens to him, but seldom to another, and thus too much betrays her disposition to shine herself. Selma is one of those who do not express all they think, but understand and treasure up much in their minds. Lennartson and I also pay particular attention to all her remarks; for they are always composed of some exciting or instructive materials. She is possessed of a fine, pure judgment; and a good head, next to a good heart, is a glorious thing in a human being.

The practice now in vogue is to sit still, diligently working, so as within two days to get all the Christmas presents ready.

A matter I have nothing to do with !

December 25th.

Christmas eve, with its yule presents, lights, and tarts, is past. My stepmother, who is very partial to children, had invited to her house those of her several acquaintances, and among others also the children of the Viking. Selma had worked several little articles for them, and we amused ourselves with contriving plays, in which

Selma acted the part of a child, as much as any one of them. Felix assisted us expertly, but Flora was in a bad humour, and would neither amuse herself, nor contribute to the entertainment of others. Brenner's children are sweet interesting little darlings. Rosina, the eldest, a girl of eight years, and Adolph, the youngest boy, I was most pleased with. The poor boy is rather lame in the hip. Whether was it "the motherly feeling," which one of my friends-a professor-maintains, is peculiar to all women, or was it a particular liking that attracted me to the boy; but certain it is, that when I had him sitting on my knees, and he looked up to me with his bright innocent childlike countenance, I was involuntarily constrained to clasp him in my arms, and with a pure feeling of ardent affection press him protectingly to my breast.

But, perceiving his father regarding us with an expression as if he would have liked to embrace us both, I became cooler in my tenderness. And the father, how he must love those children! Did I not hear him say this evening, that in choosing a partner our chief regard should be the future offspring of the alliance, and the father and mother one would give them! could not do otherwise than for the most part pronounce him to be correct.

The crown of the evening to me was my countryman Runneberg's pretty little poem "Christmas Eve," which the Viking had with him, and recited with a noble pathos. It transported me again into my native land, its wild scenery, and amid its powerful, contented, and patient people. My heart swelled. And now it is church-time, and to church I shall go.

In the Evening. The sun was streaming in through a large window into the choir as I entered the church, and light clouds of smoke from the matin tapers, just extinguished, floated through the rays of light upwards to the vaulted roof, The aspect was glorious. The church, though I came early, was full of people, so that it was not possible for me to obtain a seat. After several fruitless attempts, I determined to stand during the service, and found, moreover, a secure place near the wall, between seated ladies and standing maid servants, to whom I offered a little eau de Cologne.

I was joyful in my heart, and had never felt myself more congregational. When the organ struck up with its majestic tones my blood rolled in my veins, and a gentle thrill passed through me, when a single voice arose and sang of the most miraculous event of the world that event of which the nations of the earth to this day, and at the present day, perhaps, more than ever, speak in wondrous praise:

"Behold this day a virgin hath conceived,

And born a son-our Great Immanuel!"

Then responded the congregation, and I with them, with a full, overflowing heart.

Scarcely had the chant been ended, when I heard a gruff voice close to me inquiring:

"Cannot Mam'selle Adele find a seat?"

It was the Viking who was so kind as to compel me to take his seat, not far from where I stood. For the sake of quiet in the church I was obliged to comply. Brenner remained standing near me and escorted me home after the service, when I found Flora in an im

petuous temper. She had "headach, with the children's noise last evening." She knew of no days worse than Sundays," on which one is obliged to spend one's time so tediously and be religious." The whole of the day we had to stay at home, in consequence of my stepmother's rule to let the servants go to church that day and rest at home the remainder of it. Similar practices were observed also among our friends and acquaintances; hence we could not be invited out. What was to be done all the long day? We might kill ourselves with yawning. And what the day after?Why, perhaps worse, for what we know; then perchance we should die of over-exertion. Then one great draught would draw to us the whole tribe-" a dozen and a half of uncles and aunts, all of the turtle species; and more than twenty fair cousins, all of the haddock tribe." And all these we were to see before us from mid-day to midnight, be civil to them from mid-day to midnight, and endeavour to entertain them from mid-day to midnight! Ah, enough to drive one to despair!

Selma and I, and at last Flora herself were obliged to laugh at these desperate circumstances, and made various proposals for opposing them bravely. I recommended that we should strive to be merry, and fully carry out any suggestions for Christmas amusements. Selma only received this proposal with a slight shake of the head, and the expression:

"That won't do! Some of our gracious aunts are rather finical, and the Lord has given me such a flow of spirits, that were. I to give vent to them, they would doubtless think me silly."

My stepmother then came and begged us to be

"tranquille," all would "pass off well and easy;" she was accustomed to such things, &c. We were not by any means to trouble our minds but keep cheerful, &c. Selma sighed and then began to sing a song. the evening she entertained me with reading. went early to bed, which was a relief to us all.

In

Flora

The Third Christmas Holiday.

The great draught of fishes is successfully past, and we are reposing on our laurels.

A

The dinner-well! During dinner one may always keep alive even in the society of forty persons. good repast is good company and puts people in good humour. A great loss, at the same time to be regretted, was the absence of the Chamberlain on this occasion. We had calculated upon his excellent stories as the seasoning and spice of the dinner. But he takes no pleasure in any except small, choice dinner parties, and has no inclination to sacrifice himself.

I

Immediately after dinner comes coffee, which is also of an enlivening nature; but then follows a tedious interval-from coffee to tea-time. One feels drowsy from eating, drowsy from the heat, drowsy from the society of thirty drowsy persons, drowsy from the duty of entertaining them. All this is no easy matter. know very well that the man who appears most petrified bears within him an animating shining spark, and that it needs but the stroke of a steel against his flint to call it out. I have with pleasure observed such frequent instances of this, and therefore began to go round as an experimenting fire-steel; but, whether it