The Nursery, No. 109, January, 1876, Vol. XIX. | Page 8

of the two brothers on Long Wharf.
"The captain had to let him go after that, didn't he, grandma?" said little
Jane.
"Of course he did," said grandma. "My father soon settled that point.
He took John on board the packet, and brought him to Hingham. I well
remember the time when the brothers came home, and how John told
the story of his hardships, and how we all cried when we heard it, and
then laughed with joy to see Bernard so happy."
"And was not John happy too?" asked Ruth.
"Yes, indeed," said grandma. "And yet both the boys were sad when
they thought of their father's fate, and felt that they were orphans with
no means of support. We all did our best to cheer them up, and my
father told them they should have a home with us till they were old
enough to take care of themselves."
"And what became of them? Are they living now? Tell us all about
them," said the children.
"Ah! I must save that for another story. This is enough for to-day."
JANE OLIVER.
* * * * *
[Illustration: SCENE ON THE HUDSON RIVER.]
* * * * *

CHRISTMAS AT THE SOUTH.

Christmas at the South is usually a much milder day than it is at the
North. The ponds are not often frozen, and there is little or no snow on
the ground: so there is no skating, or coasting, or throwing of
snow-balls, or merry jingle of sleigh-bells.
But we have very good times at the South notwithstanding. The boys
go out with their guns, and sometimes shoot a wild turkey; but often
they shoot just for the sake of making a noise. Their traps are set, too,
about this time, for squirrels, as you may see in the picture.
Games of foot-ball and base-ball are not uncommon; and I have known
it mild enough for girls and boys to play croquet on the lawn, or to row
in a boat on the river.
What is that little girl doing in the central part of the picture? She is
making a present of a sack to her good old nurse, who now has a baby
of her own. The sack is for the baby. How glad they all are--the mother,
the aunt, and the little boy, who, I think, must be the baby's brother!
As for the Christmas feast at the South, it may be very much like that at
the North. In the picture we get a glimpse of a roast pig and a plum
pudding. There is often a wild turkey and a plenty of other game.
"But is there a Christmas-tree? And does Santa Claus come with his
trinkets, and his picture-books, as at the North?" Yes, in many families
there is a Christmas tree, and Santa Claus does not forget that there are
little children at the South also.
In the evening, the little ones play blind-man's-bluff, or hunt-the-slipper.
Sometimes Jack Frost steals down from the North, and pinches them.
But he does not stay long. He likes his northern home best.
UNCLE HARRY.
[Illustration: CHRISTMAS AT THE SOUTH.]

THE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

Mr. D. had promised to give his wife a beautiful rattan rocking-chair as
a Christmas present. It was his employment to sell these articles. In due
time, Mrs. D. called at his place of business, and selected a chair; but,
as she sat enjoying it for a few minutes, a new idea came into her mind,
and she told her husband that she would gladly do without her present,
if he would give Jennie and Alice (their two little daughters) each a
chair.
Her husband agreed to this; and on Christmas Eve he took home with
him two elegant little rocking-chairs. Leaving them in his garden, he
went in to tea, and, after taking his seat at the table, said to his children,
"I have a story to tell you, and it is a true story. Would you like to hear
it?"
Of course they were all eager to do so. So he said, "There was a lady in
my store to-day, whose husband had promised to make her a Christmas
present of a rocking-chair. After she had selected a very nice one, she
turned to her husband, and said, 'If you will give each of our children a
chair, I will forego the pleasure of having mine.' Now, wasn't she truly
kind?"
The children were much interested in the story; and both exclaimed,
"Yes, sir!" Then he added, "I liked the lady very much."
Here, little Alice, growing slightly jealous, exclaimed, "Did you like
her better than you do mamma?"
"Oh, no! not better, but full as well," answered her father.
After supper, the chairs were brought in, much