After dinner came an old-fashioned Christmas frolic, and the older ones were children again, and the children as wild and noisy as they chose to be.  Mr. Wharton on entering the room suddenly, saw his nephew, Mr. Tom, going around the room on all fours, as a horse, driven by his only son and heir, Master Tom, junior.

“Tom,” said Mr. Wharton suddenly, “how do you prefer calf’s head?”

“What do you mean by that, uncle?” said Mr. Tom, pausing a moment and looking up.

“I took some notes of a certain conversation which took place some years ago,” said his uncle, “in which a certain young gentleman called a certain old gentleman a calf, because he made such a fool of himself as to be a horse for his little son to drive; and this young gentleman said he would sooner eat his head, than make such an exhibition of himself.”

“Well, circumstances do alter cases, don’t they, uncle?” said Mr. Tom, beginning to prance about again under the renewed blows of the whip in Master Tom junior’s hand.

Mrs. Arlington and her daughters still keep their school, which is as popular and flourishing as ever.  Rosa and Jessie Fairland are still under their care, and it is a great pleasure to Agnes to see what fine, agreeable girls they are growing up to be.  They retain a warm affection for Agnes and pass many a pleasant day at the Rookery, when they are at home for a vacation.  Frank is still under Mr. Malcolm’s care, and a member of his family, Mr. Malcolm finds him a much more tractable pupil than one we know of, to whom he tried to do his duty many years ago.  And we must not close without saying a word of the kind, true-hearted, Ruth Glenn.  Governor F——­, at the close of his term of office was re-elected, and when at last he left the city and returned to his country home, it was with the deep regrets of all the many friends which his residence in the capitol had not failed to create for himself, and his amiable wife.  As she passed within a few miles of Wilston, Mrs. F——­ turned out of her way to stop and pay Agnes a short visit, and she found again the bright and cheerful Agnes of former times; and many a pleasant hour the friends enjoyed together, in talking over the days and nights at Mrs. Arlington’s school, for even out of the latter they could now draw some amusing recollections.

Miss Calista and Miss Evelina are still on the “look out.”  The wife of the clergyman at Wilston, having died about a year since, Miss Calista, ever ready to take advantage of any opening, began immediately to attend church very regularly, and with a vary sanctimonious and attentive air.  It remains to be seen whether anything comes of it.

And now our task is done.  If the sad story of the short life of poor Lewie, will be the means of leading any mother to use more carefully and more conscientiously, the power which she alone possesses now, of training aright the little plants in her nursery, so that they may grow up fair and flourishing, and bear good fruit; and in time repay her care by the fragrance and beauty and comfort which they shower about her declining days, it will be enough.  And may each little plant, so trained, bloom evermore in the paradise of God.