"But Harry cried out, 'Don't you believe it! Richard is either coasting or skating; and I wish I were with him. How I would enjoy a high old time on the ice, and then a coast down hill over the snow! That's the fun for me!'
"'Well,' said mother, 'I am well content with this bright sunrise and this delicious air. I shall not sigh for the snow and ice.' 'Nor I!' 'Nor I!' shouted Laura and Kate: so you see Harry was in a minority.
"Father soon landed in his boat; and then we all went back to the house and had breakfast. After breakfast we had a merry time at croquet, and then a still merrier time at foot-ball.
"As Kate will write her Cousin Mary all about the Christmas-tree, and the things that Santa Claus brought, I shall not touch on that subject. Now I hope, Cousin Richard, you have not forgotten your promise to write me."
Here were two little boys belonging to the same grand country,—one writing from the shore of the Pacific, where all was balm and sunshine on Christmas morning; and the other writing from the shore of the Atlantic, where it was cold enough to skate. What an idea does this give of the extent of our favored land, and the wonderful variety of its climates and its products!
Emily Carter.
WHY THE HORSES JUMPED OVERBOARD.
There were two fine horses. Here is a picture of them. One was named Albion, and the other Erin. Albion was the white horse, of course; for the word "Albion" is derived from the Latin albus, white; and England got the name of Albion because of its white chalky cliffs by the sea.