20 -i Story for the Holidays. [Jan., 



principle, prudent liabits and really generous feelings, but his gen- 

 erosity did not consist in wasting his earnings in order that he 

 might be thought liberal and open-hearted, but in doing real acts 

 of kindness where he saw that kindness was needed. He had saved 

 from his salary in the course of four or five years, enough to buy 

 himself a very snug house, and had a few hundred dollars in the 

 Savings' Bank, with which to furnish it when the time came for him 

 to get married. This time was not very far oflF, when the Christmas, 

 to which allusion has been made, came round. At this holiday sea- 

 son, Edward had intended making both Lizzy and her sister a holi- 

 day present, and he had been thinking for some weeks as to what it 

 should be. Many articles, both useful and ornamental, were thought 

 of, but none of them exactly pleased his fancy. 



A day or two before Christmas, he sat thinking about the matter, 

 when somethinir or other eave a new turn to his reflections. 



' They do n't really need anything,' he said to himself, 'and yet I 

 propose to myself to spend twenty dollars in presents merely for 

 appearance's sake. Is this right?' 



' Right if you choose to do it,' he replied to himself. 



'I am not sure of that,' he added, after a pause. And then he sat 

 in quite a musing mood for some minutes. 



' That 's better,' he at length said, rising up and walking about the 

 floor. That would be money and good feelings spent to a better 

 purpose. 



'But they '1 expect something,' he argued with himself; the family 

 will think so strange of it — perhaps I 'd better spend half the amount 

 in elegant books for Lizzy and Jane, and let the other go in the way 

 I propose.' 



This suggestion, however, did not satisfy him. 



' Better let it all go in the other direction,' he said after thinking 

 awhile longer, ' it will do a real good. The time will come when I 

 can explain the whole matter if necessary, and do away with any 

 little false impression that may have been formed.' 



To the conclusion at which Edward arrived, he remained firm. 

 No present of any kind was made to his betrothed, or her sister, and 

 the reader has seen in what light the omission was viewed. 



Christmas eve proved to be one of unusual inclemency. The snow 

 had been falling all day, driven into every nook and corner, cleft 

 and cranny, by a piercing north-easter ; and now, although the wind 

 had ceased to roar among the chimneys, and to whirl the snow with 



