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rbockers； and had trousers。 They outgrew their jackets； and became men； and I felt that I had not lived in vain。 I had conquered nature。 Pompey； the little spendthrift； was the honored cashier of a savings…bank； till he ran away with the capital。 Julius； the miser； became the chief croupier at the New Crockford's。 One of those boys is now in Botany Bay； and the other is in Sierra Leone！
〃I thought you were going to say in a hotter place；〃 said John Blatchford； and he told his story。
THE STOKER'S STORY
We were crossing the Atlantic in a Cunarder。 I was second stoker on the starboard watch。 In that horrible gale we spoke of before dinner； the coal was exhausted； and I； as the best…dressed man； was sent up to the captain to ask him what we should do。 I found him himself at the wheel。 He almost cursed me； and bade me say nothing of coal； at a moment when he must keep her head to the wind with her full power； or we were lost。 He bade me slide my hand into his pocket； and take out the key of the after freight…room； open that； and use the contents for fuel。 I returned hastily to the engine… room； and we did as we were bid。 The room contained nothing but old account books； which made a hot and effective fire。
On the third day the captain came down himself into the engine…room； where I had never seen him before； called me aside； and told me that by mistake he had given me the wrong key； asking me if I had used it。 I pointed to him the empty room； not a leaf was left。 He turned pale with fright。 As I saw his emotion； he confided to me the truth。 The books were the evidences or accounts of the British national debt； of what is familiarly known as the Consolidated Fund； or the 〃Consols。〃 They had been secretly sent to New York for the examination of James Fiske； who had been asked to advance a few millions on this security to the English Exchequer； and now all evidence of indebtedness was gone！
The captain was about to leap into the sea。 But I dissuaded him。 I told him to say nothing； I would keep his secret； no man else knew it。 The government would never utter it。 It was safe in our hands。 He reconsidered his purpose。 We came safe to port and did nothing。
Only on the first quarter…day which followed； I obtained leave of absence； and visited the Bank of England； to see what happened。 At the door was this placard； 〃Applicants for dividends will file a written application； with name and amount； at desk A； and proceed in turn to the Paying Teller's Office。〃 I saw their ingenuity。 They were making out new books； certain that none would apply but those who were accustomed to。 So skilfully do men of government study human nature。
I stepped lightly to one of the public desks。 I took one of the blanks。 I filled it out； 〃John Blatchford； L1747 6s。 8d。〃 and handed it in at the open trap。 I took my place in the queue in the teller's room。 After an agreeable hour； a pile； not thick； of Bank of England notes was given to me； and since that day I have quarterly drawn that amount from the maternal government of that country。 As I left the teller's room； I observed the captain in the queue。 He was the seventh man from the window； and I have never seen him more。
We then asked Hosanna for her story。
THE N。 E。 HISTORICAL GENEALOGIST'S STORY
〃My story；〃 said she； 〃will take us far back into the past。 It will be necessary for me to dwell on some incidents in the first settlement of this country； and I propose that we first prepare and enjoy the Christmas tree。 After this； if your courage holds； you shall hear an over…true tale。〃 Pretty creature； how little she knew what was before us！
As we had sat listening to the stories； we had been preparing for the tree。 Shopping being out of the question； we were fain from our own stores to make up our presents； while the women were arranging nuts； and blown egg…shells； and popcorn strings from the stores of the Eagle and Star。 The popping of corn in two corn…poppers had gone on through the whole of the story…telling。 All being so nearly ready； I called the drowsy boy again； and； showing him a very large stick in the wood…box； asked him to bring me a hatchet。 To my great joy he brought the axe of the establishment； and I bade him farewell。 How little did he think what was before him！ So soon as he had gone I went stealthily down the stairs； and stepping out into the deep snow； in front of the hotel； looked up into the lovely night。 The storm had ceased； and I could see far back into the heavens。 In the still evening my strokes might have been heard far and wide； as I cut down one of the two pretty Norways that shaded Mr。 Pynchon's front walk； next the hotel。 I dragged it over the snow。 Blatchford and Steele lowered sheets to me from the large parlor window； which I attached to the larger end of the tree。 With infinite difficulty they hauled it in。 I joined them in the parlor； and soon we had as stately a tree growing there as was in any home of joy that night in the river counties。
With swift fingers did our wives adorn it。 I should have said above； that we travelled with our wives； and that I would recommend that custom to others。 It was impossible； under the circumstances； to maintain much secrecy； but it had been agreed that all who wished to turn their backs to the circle； in the preparation of presents； might do so without offence to the others。 As the presents were wrapped； one by one； in paper of different colors； they were marked with the names of giver and receiver； and placed in a large clothes…basket。 At last all was done。 I had wrapped up my knife； my pencil…case； my lettercase； for Steele； Blatchford； and Dick。 To my wife I gave my gold watch…key； which fortunately fits her watch； to Hosanna； a mere trifle； a seal ring I wore； to Bertha； my gold chain； and to Sarah Blatchford； the watch which generally hung from it。 For a few moments we retired to our rooms while the pretty Hosanna arranged the forty…nine presents on the tree。 Then she clapped her hands； and we rushed in。 What a wondrous sight！ What a shout of infantine laughter and charming prattle！ for in that happy moment were we not all children again？
I see my story hurries to its close。 Dick； who is the tallest； mounted a step…ladder； and called us by name to receive our presents。 I had a nice gold watch…key from Hosanna； a knife from Steele； a letter…case from Phebe； and a pretty pencil…case from Bertha。 Dick had given me his watch…chain； which he knew I fancied； Sarah Blatchford； a little toy of a Geneva watch she wore； and her husband； a handsome seal ring；a present to him from the Czar； I believe； Phebe； that is my wife；for we were travelling with our wives；had a pencil…case from Steele； a pretty little letter…case from Dick； a watch…key from me； and a French repeater from Blatchford； Sarah Blatchford gave her the knife she carried； with some bright verses； saying that it was not to cut love； Bertha； a watch…chain； and Hosanna； a ring of turquoise and amethysts。 The other presents were similar articles； and were received； as they were given； with much tender feeling。 But at this moment； as Dick was on the top of the flight of steps； handing down a r