was, however, absent from illness, and without a moment's hesitation Frank volunteered to take his place. The boat was speedily launched, and succeeded at last in reaching the ill-fated crew, who in the energy of despair were still clinging to the mast as the vessel slowly sank. The last man had been rescued in spite of the rolling sea, when a terrifiic wave swept over the boat and carried poor Frank away beyond the reach of human aid. As the executor of my dear old friend, my duties have compelled me to see his widow very frequently of late, and it was during these sad interviews that I became acquainted with the incidents I have so feebly attempted to describe. In the necessary examination of some documents connected with his affairs, I came upon a little packet containing the remains of a sheet of paper, stained, faded, and torn. On the envelope in which it had been lovingly enclosed were inscribed these simple words, "Nellie's first letter." LEO. LEAFLESS TREES. SONNET. Ye outlines dark of glorious Summer forms, Yet every spring grow young and change both garb and lay. J. B. A TALE OF A STOCKING. A CHRISTMAS STORY FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE MEMBERS OF THE C.L.A. I DON'T know how it all came about, perhaps it was that I had not long before read that touching story of Bret Harte's of "How Santa Claus came to Simpson's Bar," or perhaps the spirit of Christmas had got hold of me, and the air being full of peace on earth and goodwill toward men, I thought the little children should have a share in it too; but anyhow, the moment I mentioned the idea to my wife she said, "Capital, John," and fell in with it at once. Now, if there's anything I take a delight in it is to see youngsters happy, and I've two of the rosiest-cheeked children myself, so perhaps that accounts for it. So I said to my wife, "Now, Mary, get the biggest piece of worsted, or anything as near like it as you can find, and make it up into a big stocking, never mind if it is a little out of shape, if it will only hold a lot and looks as near nature as possible, it is certain to be a success. It was very cold that night I remember, but there were bells pealing out in the distance, and I was well wrapped up and had a merry heartand how warm that makes one-and I got into town quite quickly. First of all I went into a book-shop, for I thought a book apiece would'nt be a bad beginning, and it was full of people buying Christmas cards to send to their dear little friends and their papas and mamas, and I had to wait so long that I thought, "Dearme, how late I shall be ;" but just as I thought this a nice young lady came up and showed me some books. There were so many tempting ones, that like our little Maud when she gets inside a goody shop, I didn't know which to choose. But I got them at last, and hurried off to Mountfort's shop, which I daresay most of the little boys and girls in Birmingham know, and I bought such a heap of toys, that what with those I had bought for my own children and those I got for my little nephews and nieces, for I am an uncle you see, I could hardly carry them. But I got home all safe and sound, and what do you think I saw? Why, such a splendid stocking, a big blue one, just like those my dear old grandmama used to sit knitting, only ever so much larger. Do you know they used to say my grandmama knitted them to put money in, but they never found any when she died, so that couldn't have been true, could it? However, there was a splendid stocking, so like a real one that I thought at first it was one of my own, but it was too big. Why I think I could have got it on over my boot. And wasn't it a funny idea? I said I was sure baby could go inside it. But mother laughed and said, "Nonsense." So while I was packing it full of all sorts of toys and making it as shapely as possible, mother went upstairs and put the toys I had bought for our own children on their little beds, so that when they awoke on Christmas morning they should catch sight of them first thing. I stitched the stocking up at the top and fastened a little letter from Santa Claus just on the outside, and having told mother I should be home again in time for supper, I kissed her and hurried off. Now I daresay you will be wondering all this time where I was going to. Well, I was going down to my sister's house, where they have five little children, and when the servant came to the door I should say, "Jane, put this in the children's room and don't tell anybody until the morning." The worst of it was the stocking looked so like a real leg in the moonlight, and people stared so as I passed, that I began to wish I was there, and hurried on all the faster ; but just as I was running round a corner I met a policeman. Yes, there he stood all in blue with that funny hat on his head they call a helmet, and a little lantern fastened to his belt. He flashed the lantern on me as I passed, and it lighted on the stocking. In a moment he had me by the collar, and his hard knuckles made little dents in the back of my neck. "Here, young man, what's your little game?" said he, turning me round, and so bringing the toe end of the stocking into full view; "been a murdering folks, eh? and a carrying the pieces away to bury them? I've caught you, have I?" "Excuse me, Mr. Policeman," said I, as soon as I could get my breath again, "it's very impudent of you to collar me in this way and call me a young man, why I've two little children at home and a wife waiting for me to get back to supper." "She'll have to wait a precious time to-night, young man, a murdering your grandmother and then trying to palm it off on me about the wife and kids." "What do you mean? this is only a Santa Claus stocking for the children," said I, holding it up. fiddlesticks," said he, "Come along o' me, you can tell that cock-andbull story to the Inspector." "Inspector?" said I, "Surely, Mr. Policeman, you don't mean taking me to the lock-up?" "O yes, I do though," said he, collaring me again, "and a Merry Christmas to you." It was no use protesting, in vain I held the unlucky stocking up before him, he only seemed to shrink back in horror, and then to push me on all the faster. By this time, too, a little crowd was following, composed of dirty street boys and idle-looking women. Oh, how my cheeks burned, and how I wished I had taken the precaution to wrap that fatal stocking in brown paper, but I had been in such a hurry to get it there, that it had never occurred to me until now. "I say, Bill," said one little urchin running close beside me, "Blest if he aint murdered his grandmother," while a woman shrieked out, "Lawks a massy, if here aint another Wainwright." I was glad at last to find myself even inside the police station, where the policeman having pushed me towards a kind of high "Santa bar, touched his hat to a man who sat at a little table in front of me, who hastily glancing me over, said, "What's the charge, 92 X?" "Murder, Sir," said the policeman. The Inspector started, rose from his seat, and came forward to take another look at me. "Prisoner," said he, "it is my duty to inform you that whatever you say will be used as evidence in the future." While this pantomime was going on I had recovered my breath, and pushing the stocking forward from under my "This is the cause of the arm, I said, unable to keep from laughing, charge, Sir, a Santa Claus stocking, which I was taking to my sister's children." "That's what he told me," said 92 X; "but of course I didn't believe him, Sir." Meanwhile the Inspector had pulled out a pocket knife and cut the stitches which fastened the top together, and now commenced getting the toys out. He had not taken out more than half a dozen when he said, 92 X, this charge must be withdrawn; Sir, I regret you should have been made the victim of such a mistake. Come and sit down by the fire, Sir, and when you feel you would like to leave, 92 X shall see you to your destination." So I sat down, and having borrowed a big needle and some string, which 92 X fetched for me (he seemed very anxious to do anything to put himself right with me), I re-placed the toys and stitched the stocking up. I took care to ask for a piece of brown paper, and this time wrapped it up out of sight. While I sat there I told the Inspector all about the stocking up to the time I arrived at the police station. Meanwhile, a drunken woman was brought in with such a tiny baby in her arms, and its poor little face looked so cold. She was ordered to be locked up until morning, and went away cursing and swearing. Oh, little children, who have nice warm beds, with dear fathers and mothers to love and cherish you, when sometimes a naughty word against father or mother rises to your lips because you cannot do just what you want, think of that little baby with the drunken mother: or the poor little ragged boy who came in a few minutes after with a loaf of bread under his arm which he had stolen, and who cried so bitterly when they locked him up that I think I cried a little bit too. As I wished the Inspector good night, and set out with 92X, the church clocks were striking nine, and we walked briskly, for the air was very keen and snow was falling fast. On the way I told him the story of Santa Claus. 'Ah," said he, when I had finished, "them sort of things is all very well for them as can afford 'em; my good 'ooman, bless 'er, does 'er best to have a bit of summat extry like for dinner o' Christmas day, but our kids don't have no stockings with toys in brought 'em. You see, Sir, it ain't as we should'nt like to do it as much as other folks, but we can't afford, so we goes wi'out. But lor' love you, Sir, if you was to see our Tommy a playin' with a doll as my missus made him out of one of her old cotton gownds, you'd die a laughing." 92X was growing talkative, so I tipped him half-a-crown, just to buy Tommy and the others a few toys for to-morrow, and reaching my sister's door, I wished him good night. Then I took the brown paper off the stocking and rang the bell. When the servant, who knew me, came, I handed her the stocking, told her to hang it up in the children's bedroom until morning, and not tell anyone who brought it. Then I shut the door, ran all the way home, got a scolding from my wife for being late, and told her all about the policeman, at which she was first indignant, and then amused; but when I told her about giving half-a-crown to 92X, she said "Just like you, you'd give your head to the children if it were loose." "Well," I said, "perhaps I should, but its on pretty tight, or the tugs they've already had at it would have made it theirs by now;" and then we went off to bed. Christmas Morning. What a grand Christmas Morning it was, the air was fresh and invigorating, and the sun shone brightly on the frozen snow. Boys were ringing the bells and wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, until the servant, tired of answering the door, began to wish Christmas was over; while other boys, armed with brooms and shovels, pleaded to be allowed to sweep your already well-swept footpath; and little cock-robin sang sweetly on the window sill in the garden at the back, and looked out for crumbs. I need not tell you of the merry meetings with our friends, how the little ones and all of us met together, as folks always do at Christmas, and what a happy family party we made. But I must tell you how, after dinner was over, and the children were brought in, my little nephews and nieces came climbing all over me, and wanted to tell me, all at once, about a wonderful stocking they'd found in their bedroom that morning. But they made such a noise that I had to persuade them to let the eldest tell me. So they agreed, and he began: "Well, uncle, when we woke there was a big stocking hanging up in our room, but nurse would not let us open it until we had washed and had our breakfast; and we did make haste, and Willie wanted to leave some so as to have done first, but nurse made us eat it all up. Then we carried it in to father, and he untied the top, and read us such a nice letter from Santa Claus." "Dear me," said I, "a letter from Santa Claus; won't you show it to me?" "No, no," said little Nellie, "Papa says I am to read it to you presently, when Harry has told you all about the stocking." So Harry went on-" There were such lots of toys inside, two little animals, made of india-rubber, that squeaked if you squeezed them, some boxes of sweets and chocolates, and some nice dolls; a little musical box, a running mouse, a rattle, and some soldiers; a big ball, some nice books, a humming top, a trumpet, a Noah's ark, and a box of bricks." Of course, Harry had to be reminded ever so many times by the others, or I think he would never have told me all. "And, now, children," I said, "who is Santa Claus ?" "O, we know, we know." "Who is it, then?" "You!" "I? who said so?" "Father." "Ah, then, if your father said so, it must be right; and now you must all be very quiet while little Nellie reads us the letter. Hush." "When little children lie asleep, |