Amelia.—That will do very well. Now, Oswald, make haste, for I hear my father coming.
Oswald easily procured a boy to carry the packet to the house of Mr. Lovel, who lived in one of the upper cross streets. The door was opened by the black girl, who immediately recognised the boy as an old acquaintance, and commenced a conversation with him. "Why, Ben," said she, "What is this you have brought for Master Edwin? I guess it's a book. It looks 'xactly like one. All done up so nice, and sealed. Why, I'm puzzled who sended it." "He did not tell me his name," replied the boy, "but I guess I know who he is, for all that. It's Master Oswald Woodley, Mr. Woodley, the great merchant's eldest son. My aunt is cook there, and I've often been in the kitchen. And he gave me a quarter-dollar for carrying it; and it must be 'livered into Master Edwin's own private, particular hands."
So saying, he departed, and the girl ran up to Edwin's room, holding out the parcel and saying, "Master Edwin, here's a book for you, signed, sealed, and delivered; sent by Master Oswald Woodley, oldest son of Mr. Woodley the great merchant."
Edwin took the book, and, on opening it, was much surprised to find the note written in a female hand, and the name of Amelia Woodley on the presentation plate of the Souvenir, which had been inscribed by her father the preceding evening, and which she had forgotten to erase before she sent it away. For some time, his pleasure in examining the beautiful plates absorbed every other consideration, and it was not till he had gone twice over them, that he thought of the mystery connected with the book. His honourable principles determined him not to accept it, as he saw that there was some secrecy about the whole transaction, and that probably the generous young lady, whose name it bore, had sent it to him without the knowledge of her parents. The beauty of the book was a great temptation, and he would have derived much pleasure from copying some of the fine plates, but still he could not reconcile it to his conscience to keep it, neither would he betray the kind-hearted Amelia to her father. He resolved to seal it up again, and leave it himself at Mr. Woodley's door, addressed to Oswald.
He took his last sheet of paper, and wrote in it as follows:—
"Accident has discovered to me to whom I am indebted for a most beautiful present, but though it has excited my warmest gratitude, I cannot consent to accept it under circumstances of mystery to which the parents of my kind friend may be strangers. I return it with a thousand acknowledgments.
Edwin Lovel."
Having looked once more at the engravings, he put up the Souvenir, and set out himself to leave it at Mr. Woodley's house, intending to desire the servant that opened the door to give it to Master Oswald.
Mr. Woodley was sitting at the centre-table looking over some English newspapers, and he found in one of them a high eulogium on a new picture by an American artist, now in London. He read the piece aloud, and when he had concluded, "Amelia," said he, "if I am not mistaken, there is in your Souvenir an engraving from this picture. Let me look at it again." Amelia coloured and knew not what to say, and Oswald also seemed much embarrassed. "My dear," pursued Mr. Woodley, "did you not hear me? If you can get the book conveniently, I should like to look at that plate." Amelia, confused and trembling, tried to speak but could not, and her eyes were immediately filled with tears. "Amelia," said Mr. Woodley, "has any accident happened to the Souvenir?" "No, my dear father," she replied, "but I have given it away." "Is it possible," said Mr. Woodley, "that you were so soon tired of your father's Christmas gift?" "Oh! no, no," replied Amelia, "but there is a poor boy who draws beautifully, and I thought it would make him so happy. Dear Oswald, tell the whole."
Oswald then, as concisely as possible, related all the circumstances: and Mr. Woodley, after gently blaming the children for disposing of the book without consulting their parents, kissed Amelia, and commended her kindness and benevolence in bestowing her Souvenir on poor Edwin Lovel.