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Ofli __-_._L______ie_>__[ uEnnsa lauJl^hv <_ — A■- - '■ - W.... __. _i_

MONDAY.. .......DECEMBER M, 186s

Where'er the Heart W

• TiaHona where'er the heart t*. Where'er Ita loved ones dwell. In cities or in cottages, , ~ .Throng'd haunts or mossy dell. Ths heart's a rover ever. And thus on wave or wild Ths maiden with her lover walks, The mother with her child. Tie bright where'er the heart la; It's fair? anells can bring Fresh fountains to the wilderness, And to the desert spring. There sre green lales In every sea, O'er which affection glides _ Aad a haven on each ragged shore Where love's the star that guides. 'Tie free where'er the heart Is; Nor chain, nor dungeon dim. May cheek the mind'a aspirings, fhs aptrll'a pealing hymn! The hesrt give* llfe+ta beauty, Ita glory, and ita power; •Tie sunlight to iv rippling stream. And soft dew to Its tower."

A CjWRISTMAS story.

LITTLE TEECIE.

BELATED BY MRS. LIRRIPER's LODGER.

The evening was raw, and there was snow on the streets, genuine London snow, half thawed and trodden and defiled with mud I remembered it well, that snow, though it was fifteen years since I had last seen its cheerless face. There it lay, in the same old rots, and spreading the same old snares on the side- Srthe. Only a few hours arrived from South merica via Southampton, I sat in my room. At Morley's Hotel, Charing Cross, and looked gloomily out at the fountains, walked up and down the Boor discontentedly, and fiercely tried my best to feel glad that I wns a wan derer no more, and that I had indeed got home _* __**? np m * fi s e » and to °k a long look backward upon my past life, through the em ber*. I remembered how my childhood had been embittered by dependence, how my rich and respectable uncle, whose ruling passion was vain-glory, had looked on my existence as a nuisance, not so much because he was obliged to open his purse to pay for my clothing and edu cation, as because that, when a man, he i thought I could reflect no credit upon his i name. I remembered how, in those days, 1 had a soul for the beautiful, and a certain, al most womanish, tenderness of heart, which by dint of much sneering, had been success fully extracted from me. I remembered mv uncle's unconcealed relief at my determination to go abroad and seek my fortune, the cold good-bye of my only cousin, the lonely, bitter farewell to England, hardly sweetened by the impatient hopes that consumed rather than cheered me—the hopes of name and gold, won by my own exertions, with which I should yet wring from those who despised me the worthless respect which they denied me now. Sitting there at the fire, I rang the bell, and the waiter came to me: an old man, whose face I remembered. I asked him some ques tions. Yes, he knew Mr. George Rutland ; recoUected that many years ago he used to stay nt Morley's when he came to London. The old gentleman had always stayed there. But Mr. George was too grand for Morley's now. The family always came to town in the spring, but, nt this season, "Rutland Hall, Kent," would be pretty sure to be their address. Having obtained all the information I de sired, I began forthwith to write a letter: _ Dear George,—l dare say you will be as ' much surprised to see my handwriting as you j would to behold an apparition from the dead. However, you know I was always a ne'er-do well, and I have not had the grace to die yet. I earn ashamed not to be able to announce myself j as having returned home with my fortune I made; but mishaps will follow the most hard- | working and well-meaning. I am still a young I man, even though fifteen of the best years of my ! life may have been lost; and lam willing to ! devote myself to any worthy occupation.— Meantime, I am anxious to see you and yours. A long absence from home and kindred makes one value the grasp of a friendly hand. I shall not wait tor jour reply to this, but go down to Kent the day after to-morrow, ar riving, I believe, about dinner time. You see lam making myself assured of your V3lcome for a few weeks, till I have time to 100. about me. I remain, dear George, " Your old friend and cousin, t"GcY Rutland." [ folded this missive and placed it in its en lope. " I shall find out, once for all, what py are made of," I said, complacently, as I wrote the address, "George Rutland, Esq., Rutland Hall, Kent." It Was about seven on a frosty evening when I arrived'at the imposing entrance of Rutland Hall. No Cousin George came rushing out to meet me. "Of course not," I thought; "I am unused to their formal manners in this country. He is lying in wait for me on the mat inside.'' I was admitted by a solemn per son as quietly and mechanically as though my restoration to home and kindred were a thing that had happened regularly in his presence every day since his birth. He ushered me into a grand haU, but no mat supported the impatient feet of the dignified master of the house. "Ah!" said I, "even this, perhaps, were Bcarcely etiquette. No doubt he stands chafing on the drawing-room hearth-rug, and I have little enough time to make myself pre- j sen table before dinner." So, resigning my self to circumstances, I meekly followed a guide, who volunteered to conduct me to the chamber assigned to my especial use. I had to travel a considerable distance before I reached it. "Dear me!" I remarked to my self when I did reach it, " I had expected to find the rooms in such a house more elegantly appointed than this!" I made my toilette, and again submitting myself to my guide, was convoyed to the drawing-room door. AH the way down stairs I had been conning pleasant speeches with which to greet my kinsfolk. lam not a bril liant person, but I sometimes succeed in pleas ing when I try, and on this occasion I had the desire to do my best. The drawing-room door was at the distant end of the haU, and my arrival had been so very quiet that I conceived my expectant en tertainers could hardly be aware of my pre sence in the house. I thought I should give them a surprise. The door opened and closed upon me, leaving me within the room. I looked around me, and saw—darkness there, and nothing more. ■Ah, yes, but there was something more ! There was a blazing fire which sent eddying swirls of light through the shadows, and right in the blush of its warmth a little figure was lounging in an easy chair. The little figure was a girl of apparently about fifteen "or six teen years of age, dressed in a short, shabby i black frock, who was evidently spoiling her ! eyes by reading by the flre-Hght. She lay with i her head thrown back, a mass of fair curly hair being thus tossed over the velvet cushion on which it rested, while she held her book aloft to catch the light. She was luxuriating in her solitude, and little dreaming of inter ruption. She was so absorbed in her book, the door had opened and closed so noiselessly, and the room was so large that I was obliged to make a aound to engage her attention. She started violently then, and looked up with a nervous fearfulness in her face. She dropped her book, aat upright, and put out her hand, eagerly grasping a thing I had not noticed be fore, and which leaned against the chair—a crutch. She then got up, leaning on it, and stood before me. The poor little thing was lamn, und had two crutches by her. - ■V** 1 '• and h/* fear seemed to I £*!fm«f?* •* ked me to sit down, with a I Hd^t^!£!^ pMo ° 0 l at-home-ness, which | W Tf **? «««■ She picked up ***" aoo* ana laid it on her inn • ,ha »nuin<Ji i n net from the recesses of her P ci_ir 2_fs?S i a blush, gathered up w i th into its meshes. Then she *t ern her hand upon her ready at a moment's notice to Umn » W « •ero-the carpet, and leave me to mySwSK " Thomson thought there was nobody in tb« room," she said, as if anxtooa for her own presence there. "I alwawsLin s^«?^t eX^^^ ttowwh * n the? all "ST ?_ t»nd bi not at home t" I said. "feL2^^^ on toUiang." my tousr*?'' p * p *' I* l **!*. °M not get Hfche Mushed crimson. aha said. "Mv bams is Teecie Bay. I am an orphan. £j frjWwnnafrtoai of Mr. Rutland, and he <eass cars of me for charity." pronounced with a cer- ' tain controlled quuer of tho Up But 9 hei li benrt agenthnnaii * bo,,t tae iwt * r * but

think U ootttd be to-night, though, aa they all I went out" " .<,'.' **A reasonable conclusion to soma to," I thought, and thereupon began musing on the eacnrness of welcome displayed by my affec tionate Cousin Qeorge. If I were the gentle man expected, they mnat have received my letter, and in it were fully set forth (he day and hour of my proposed arrival. "Ah! Oeorge, my dear fellow," I-said, "yon are not a whit changed l" Arriving nt thia conclusion, I raised mv glance, nnd mat, full, tho observant gaae of a pair of lair«sE"*irew«l grey PVO „ j^ y ]iuh . hostess, for the time being, was regarding me with such a curiously legible expression on her face that I could not but read it and be -unused. It said plainly; " I know more about you than you think, and I pity yon. You hero with expectations which will not be ntlnlled. There is mnch mortification iv store for you. I wonder yon came here nt all. £ * were once well ontshre these gates I ahould never limp inside them again. If I knew a road out into the world you come from I would set out bravely on my crutches. No, not oven for the sake of a stolen hour like this, In a velvet chair, would I remain here." How any one glance could say all this was a riddle; but it did say all this. The language of the face was as simple to me aa though every word had been translated into my ear. Per haps a certain internal light, kindled long ago, : before this little orphan was liorn, or George IK v Hand had become, owner of Hut land Hall, I assisted me in deciphering so much informa tion so readily. However that may be, certain things before surmised became assured fa_Ls in my mind, and a quaint bond of eyttpnßay became at once established between me and i my companion. " Miss Ray,"' 1 said, " what do you think of a man who, having been abroad for fifteen years, has the impudence to come home with out a shilling in his pocket? Oi_ht he not to be stoned alive ? V "I thought how it was," she said, shaking her head, and looking up with another of her j shrewd glances. " I knew it, when they put you into such a bad bedroom. They are keep ing all the good rooms for the people who are coming next week. The house will be full for Christmas. It won't do,'" she added, medita tively. " What won't do ?•' I said. " Your not having a shilling in your pocket. They'll sneer at you for it, and ihe servants will find it out. I have a guinea that old Lady Thornton gave me on my birthday, and If you would take the loan of it I should be very glad. I don't want it at all, and you could pay me back when you are better off." She said this with such business-like gravity that 1 felt obliged to control my inclination to laugh. She had evidently taken me under her protection. Her keen little wits foresaw snares and difficulties besetting my steps during my stay at Rutland Hall, to which my newer eyes, she imagined, must be ignorantly blind. 1 looked at her with amusement, as she sat there seriously considering my financial interests. I had a fancy to humor this quaint confidential relation that had sprung up so spontaneously between ns. I said gravely: j " I am very much obliged to you for your of fer, and will gladly take advantage of it. Do I you happen to bavea guinea at hand? " She seized her crutches, and limped quickly < out of the room. Presently she returned with a little bon-bon box, which she placed in my j hand. Opening it, I found one guinea, wrap- J ped up carefully in silver paper. •« I wish it had been more! " she said, wist fnllv, as I coolly transferred it to my pocket, , box and all, «'But Iso seldom get money ! " At this moment the solemn person who had j escorted me hither and thither before an nounced that my dinner was served. On my return to the drawing-room I found, j to my intense disappointment, that my benefi- : cent "bird had flown. Teecie Ray had limped off to the nursery. Next morning,*at breakfast, I was introduced to the family. I found them, on the whole, pretty much what 1 had expected. My Cousin George had developed into a pompous portly paterfamilias ; and, in spite of his cool proles'- j sions of pleasure, was evidently very sorry to ace me. The Mamma Rutland just couute '■ nanced me, in a manner Ihe most frigidly po- ; lite. The grown-up young ladies treated me with the most well-bred negligence. Unless I j had been very obtuse indeed, 1 could scarcely ! I have failed to perceive the place appoint <_>for ! jme in Rutland Hall. I was expected to sit be tow the salt. I was that dreadful thing—a pataon of no importance. George amused him self with me for a few days, displaying to me his various fine possessions, and then, on the I arrival of grander guests, left me to my own resources. The Misses Rutland endured my escort on their riding expeditions only till more eligible cavaliers appeared. As for the lady of tho house, her annoyance at having me quartered indefinitely on her premises was hardly concealed. The truth- was, they were new people in the circle in which they moved, and it did not suit them to have a poor relation coming suddenly among them, calling them "cousin," and making himself at home in the house. For me, I was not blind, though none of these things did it suit me to see. I made myself as comfortable as was possible under the circumstances, took every sneer and snub in excellent part, and was as amiable and satisfied on all occasions as though I believed myself to be the most cherished inmate ol" the household. That this meanness of mine should provoke their contempt, I had hardly a right to complain of. Nor did I. I accepted this like the rest of their hospitality, and smiled contentedly as the days went 011. The gloom which had oppressed me on my first arrival in England had all betaken itself away. How could I feel otherwise than supremely happy at finding myself thus namiiiiiiuh d by my kind relations, thus generously entertained "under their hospitable roof ? As I found that the guests at Rutland Hall enjoyed a certain freedom in their choice ol amusements, and the disposal of their time, I speedily availed myself of this privilege. I selected my own associates, and I entertained myself as pleased me best. Not finding my self always welcomed in the drawing-room, I contrived, by a series of* the most dexterous artifices, to gain the free entree of the nursery. In this nursery were growing up some five or six younger branches of the Rutland family. After a certain hour in the day none of the elders ever thought of invading its remote precincts. Five o'clock in the evening was the children's tea hour, and the plensantest, I thought, in the twenty-four. Nurse was a staid woman, who knew liow to appreciate a little present now and again, and to keep her j own counsel on the subject. The children I were not pleasant children ; they were unruly, j mischievous little wretches. They conceived a sort of affection for me, because I sometimes I brought to the nursery sundry purchases made I during solitary rides; picture-books, toys, j dolls, or sweetmeats, procured by means of j Teecie Ray's guinea. I suggested as much to I Teecie one evening as she sat by, watching the ! distribution, and she nodded her head in sage j satisfaction. She thought that I economised Imy substance very well. It covered a great j many small extravagances, that guinea did. Whatever might be my position at Rutland j Hall, Teecie Ray's was simply intolerable. A I spirit less brave must have been cowed and bro ken by it: a nature less delicate must have been blunted and made coarser. The servants openly neglected her, the children used her as they pleased ; wreaked their humors on her, sparing neither blow nor taunt in their passions, and demanding from her at all times whatever ser ▼fee it suited their capricious fancy to need Nurse, the only one who ever showed a grain of consideration for the orphan, would some ■ times shield her from their impish attacks I when she could do so with safety to herself but she was not permitted to deal with those darlings in the only fashion which would have been at all likely to bring them to reason As [ for the elder,s of the house, Teecie Ray's mo mentary presence, or the mere mention of her name, was sufficient to ruffle their peace of m e j VWhat is to be done with that girl * " I heard Mrs. Rutland remark to one of her daughters. "If she were not lame one might set her to earn her bread in some way ; but:as II _—- A shrug of the shoulders, and a cer tain vinegar-like expression of countenance which this tody knew how to assume, sufficient ly developed the idea thus imperfectly ex pressed. And how did Teecie Ray meet all this ? She did not complain nor rebel, she did not sulk or fret. Under that well-worn black frock of hers she carried a little breastplate Of sober de termined endurance. When sorely tried there was never any cowardly submission to be seen in her grave little face, neither was there ever in her manner or words either reproach or re monstrance. She simply endured. Her large patient eyes nnd mute wise mouth seemed to *VLL ' Wb *b»verl suffer, whatever I long to m Ju«5 ri H lt,,d * »h»u?kles my limbs, and seals SeTam aumb/' ed lr ° mmany lUiU ** ; there " wmJ daTS 15? I r. met m y ,iul * benefactress the , dra^fn^rJo?n^l r , OUr ttMt Interview In noontochf H**alter- ttner P° Cttmeu i m w^ch y iaTto W th"SSksflh W S a hed «" la,ie yond the garden" and thiilu i? 00 **' away bp ? H2S: I ln.m«ll«wly SmSKSto/LiMh

to all of which she listened with perfsci credu lity, expressing her sympathy as I went almr i •yjl ll e»presslve nod of ths head or a ahregS «wlft glance. Then she gave me her wise little counsel when all Was told, and went home, I believe, pondering on my case. As the days passed, aud my relations became more find more Involved in their winter gai eties, I found myself more and more thrown upon my own resources for amusement. Oc casionally I was included in an invitation, aud accepted it; but in general I preferred indulg ing my fancy for keeping aloof from those who w««re little charmed with my compnny. A sys tem of the most unblushing bribery had won for me a warm welcome from the xttvage tribes in tho nursery. Many and many an evening found mo walking down that hedged lane in the frosty dusk, with Teecie Ray limping by my side, nnd talking her grave simple little talk. I had always some fresh puzzle to pro pose toher, and she was always ready to knit her smooth brow*'over its solution. Once she Stopped short and struck her little crutches on the snow. 4 ' You ought to go away from here and work," she cried. "O, if /could ! " A certain Sir Harry arrived at Rutland Hall; I will not trouble myself to think of hissecond name: it is not worth remembering. He was | a Jpoithy bachelor of high family, and his movements were watched with interest by the lady of thehou.se. This Sir Harry had a fancy for smoking his cigar in the hedged lane, and on more than one occasion he encountered my little benefactress limping on her solitary way, and stared at the pretty fresh face under her old black hat till It blushed with uncomfort able brilliance. Teecie changed her track like a hunti'd hare, but Sir Il_rry scented her out, ! and annoyed her with nis fulsome Compli ments. The matter reached Mrs. Rutland's earn, and she vented her chagrin on the de fenceless little girl. I know not what sorry accusations and reproaches she bestowed upon her during a long private lecture; but thnteye ning When, at the children's tea hoiir.l entered the nursery door with a new ball in my hand for Jack, (the youngest and least objectionable. of the band,) 1 saw Teecie Bay's face griev j ously clouded for tho first time. It was flushed and "swollen with passionate crying. Ido not intend*to commit to paper Certain remarks which I made totto voce on beholding this dis figurement. "Come, come, Teecie,' I said, while ISurso was busy quelling a disturbance which had arisen because " Cousin Guy " had not brought something to every one else as well as Jack ; " where is all your philosophy, little mother ? You need never preach to me again, if you set me such a bad example." Teecie said never a word, but stared Oil into the tire. This wound hadeutdeer*. Sir Harry and Mrs. Rutland, of Rutland Hall, at that moment 1 should have dearly loved to knock your two good-for-nothing heads together ! " Teecie," I said, " yon have one friend, at any rate, even if he be not a very grand one." She gave one of her" quaint expressive Utile nods. Translated, it meant: " I understand all that, but I cannot talkjpet now." By-and by, however, she brightened up, and went to the table to claim her share of tea and thick bread and but tor, and I began to mend a bow lielonging to Tom. Tom was one of the leaders >f the unruly tribes, a regular savage chief- Ere two days more had passed I felt strongly nclined to exercise l he horsewhip on this young entleman's shoulders. Tom, one line inorn ng, was seized with an impish inspiration to play a trick upon Teecie. Stealing her crutches, he walked about the nursery mimicking her poor little limp, and then marching off with them, heedless of her entreaties to have them restored, carried them in triumph out of doors, aud smashed them in pieces with a hatchet. Teecie sat helpless in the din and riot of that ill-conditioned nursery. Bright bracing days came and found her ;t prisoner, looking with longing ayes through the window-panes out over the beautiful country lanes. Tom saw her patience with the most audacious indifer- j euce. But why talk about Tom? I could not help believing, nor do 1 ever intend to help be- j lieving, that older heads than Tom's plotted the cruel caging of that bonniC hud. • Tho bird drooped on its perch; but who I caYcd? Nurse vowed it was a shame, and ' showed more kindness than usual to the pri- j soner, but 1 will not venture to decide howl .much of this tenderness was owing to the odd crown-pieces which found their way from my hand to hers—all out of the guinea, of course? O yes, all out of the guinea. And there was another friend who sometimes expressed an! interest in Teecie Ray's existence. This was that Lady Thornton, whose bounty had mdi- ! rectly furnished me with pocket-money during my stay at Rutland Hall. The favor of this old lady I had done my best to win. She was ! a nice, comfortable old lady, and I liked her. ! It happened thai she called one day during Teecie Bay's imprisonment to invite the Rut lands and their visitors, great and small, young I and old, to a party to be given at her house, a I few miles distant." I chanced to be alone in] the drawing-room when she arrived, and 1 seined the opportunity to tell her the story of Teecie's crutches. "A bad boy !'" she said. "A bad, malicious boy! She must get new crutches before my "Of course she must,*' I said very heartily. The old lady threw back her head, raising her fat chin in a peculiar sort of way, and looking at me direct through her spectacles. '•Indeed.'*' she said. "Pray, young man, what particular interest do you take in Teecie I smiled. "Oh, Teecie and I are excellent I friends," I said. "Teecie and you* she repeated. "Pray, are you aware that Miss Kay is eighteen years of age?" "Is she, indeed ? I know nothing about the ages oi" little girls." "But Teecie is not a little girl, Mr. Guy Rutland. Teecie Ray is a woman, I toll >ou !'' Teecie Ray a woman! I could not help laughing. What, my little benefactress, my little mother ! I am afraid I scandalized Lady Thornton on that.occasion by my utter scorn of lur proposition. Christina Rutland swept into the room at this crisis, and relieved me in my difficulty. But often afterwards during that day 1 laughed when I thought of« Lady ' Thornton's in formation. Teecie Bay a wo man? Preposterous! One morning, when it wanted but a week of I the party, a curious event occurred. The iieads of the Souse met in consultation on the matter, in the library, before breakfast. An extraordinary Thing had arrived from Loudon at Rutland Hall. The Thing was a large wooden case, directed to Teecie Ray. On being eagerly opened, it was found to contain a pair of crutches. And such a pair of crutches! Light and symmetrical, aud fanciful, works of art in their way. Tortoise-shell stems, with silver j mountings of exquisite workmanship, capped I with dainty little cushions of embroidered velvet. Thunder-stricken were the ciders of the house. "Who could have done this I thing?'* was on every lip. Who, indeed? Who outside of Rutland Hall had ever heard of Teecie Ray? These crutches were costly affairs. I knew the conclusion they came to, one at d all. They pitched on Sir Harry as the culprit. It was a thorn in their side, and 1 rubbed my hands in glee. Having considered the question in their dis may, they divided that Teecie should be kept in ignorance of her mysterious present. It was not fit for her to use : it wonld fill her mind With absurtl ideas. And so, in spite of the ar rival of her beautiful new crutches, poor Tee cie still sat helpless in thenurserv. The wooden case and its contents were hidden away, and no word was spoken of their existence. I waited a few days to see if the elders would relent, but to no purpose. The bird *till pined on its perch. No kindly hand seemed likely to open the cage door aud let it fly. There sat Teecie, day alter day, in her nursery chair, hemming aprons for nurse, or darning the children's stockings, looking longingly out of the window, and growing pale for want of fresh air. Still never rebelling, never com plaining.. Meantime the stir of Christmas pre paration was agitating all the household, and the children were fun of rapture at the pro spect of Lady Thorntons Christmas party. There was great excitement in the nursery about pretty new dresses, wonderful fussing about ribbons, and muslins, and fripperies Teecie alone sat silent in her .shabby frock. By-and-by her hands were full, bowing up sashes, sewing on tuckers, stitchingrosetteson shoes. She was a nimble little workwoman and they kept her busy. Seeing how well a lap fidl of bright ribbons became her, I thought it a pity she should not have a gay dress as well as the rest. <*> Nobody said, " Teecie, what will you wear ?" nor even, " Teecie, are not you invited too •*' No one Beamed to expect for a moment that Teecie could wish to be merry with the rest How could she go, she who was lame aud had no crutches? It happened thai 1 had an errand to the nearest town. It was rather late, when, on my return, I called at the best millinery establish ment in the place and asked for a parcel* Yes, the parcel was ready. A large flat box. "Would the gentleman like to see the lady's pretty dress!" The box***:!* opened, and a cloud of some airy fabric .shaken out under my eyes. I cannot, of course, describe it, but it was something white, very pure and transpa rent, with something else of pink just blushing through it. It was very tasteful, I pronounced, trying to look v#se. There was only one fault: ,

" Did it not seetaVrather long lor a little girl ?" I asked, remembering the figure it was to adorn/With its short skirt jnst coming to the top of the boots, so«well worn and mended. " Oh, sir," said the milliner, with dignity, " you said the young lady was eighteen years of age, and of coarse we have given her*, flow - ing skirt!" It was late In tho evening when I reachwi home. Two merry carriage-fulls were just de parting from the door as I drove up. A few minutes afterwards I was in the nursery with the milliner's' parcel in my hands. There sat dear little Cinderella, resting one flushed cheek on her hand, and contemplating the litter of scraps of ribbon, fragments Of lace, scissors, flowers, and reels of cotton, which lay scattered around her. She had bad a toilsome, tiresome day, and now they had got all they wanted of her, and had left her to her solitude. A flash of pleasure sprang to her face when she saw me. "Oh! I thought you had gone wl*h the rest," she said. .. said I, "I have not gone yet, but I am going presently. I came for yon." "Forme!" she echoed in dismay. "Yon know I could not go. I have no dress, even if I could walk. " . "A friend has sent yon a dress," I said, " ami I will undertake to provide tho crutches. Nnrse, will you please to take this box, and get Miss Teecie ready as quickly as possible. The carriage is waiting for ns at the door, "Teecie flushed very red at first, and I thought she was going to burst out crying, nnd then she turned pale, and looked ingnt i ened. Nurse, to whom I had supped a mu nificent Christmas box, immediately fell into raptnres over the pretty dress. . "Come, Teecie," I said, "make haste! And trembling between dread and dellgm Teecie suffered herself to be carried oft to her Blßv tho time I returned from an exploring ex pedition, with the wonderful silver-and tortoise-shell crutches under my arm, Teecie was ready. Teecie was ready. Those three simple little Words mean so much that I feel I must stop and try to translate them into all they are hound to convey. They do not mean that Teecie, the child whom I was wont to call my little benefactress, my little mother, had got on a nice new frock, and was equipped for a juvenile party like other children. Rut they mean that there, when I came back, stood a beaut if ul girl by the nursery fire, in a fair sweeping blush-colored robe. When she turned her head, I saw that the sweet face, framed in its child-like«curls, was the same, but still the old Teecie Bay was gone, and here was (peccavi Lady Thorr 'on !) a lovely wo man. We were all three ludicrously amazed at. the sudden metamophose that had taken place. Teecie was too simple not to show that she felt the change in herself, felt it keenly, with a strange delight and a strange shyness. Nurse had so long been accustomed to use her as a child that she stood bewildered. As for me, I was first frightened at what 1 had done, then enchanted, then foolishly awkward, and almost as shy as Teecie herself. When I presented the crutches, nurse looked at me as though I must be some prince in dis- j guise, out of the Arabian Nights. It was j with a curious feeling that 1 saw Teecie try them, not limping now, rather gliding over! the nursery floor, with the little velvet cushions hidden away amidst clouds of lace j and muslin under her round white shoulders, and the airy masses of the fresh tinted gown i just crushed back a little by the gleaming sil- ; ver staves. I don't know why it was that I thought at that moment, with a certain rap- ; ture, of a guinea in a little bon-bon box, that lay below in the one shabby portmanteau which I had thought proper to "bring with me j to Rutland Hall! Our equipage awaited us. It was too late now to withdraw from what I had under taken. Teecie and I were soon dashing over the snowy roads to Lady Thornton's. I will ! not attempt to describe the remainder of that memorable evening, or the sensation caused by our arrival; the wonder and mortification ot* my kind relations; or the mingled pleasure and displeasure of the hostess, who, while de lighted to see her little favorite, took occasion to whisper angrily in 1113' ear, " And pray, sir, how is all this to end ?" The scene was all new and delightful to Teecie, but her dread of Mrs. Rutland's por tentons frown would not let her enjoy it. We ! both felt that a storm would burst over our heads that night, and we were not wrong. None of tho family from Rutland Hall took the least notice of us. When the time came forgoing home, they went off in their two! carriages, and Teecie and I drove? homo as we had come. When we arrived, we found Cousin George and his wife waiting for us in the library, armed to the teeth. I saw it was to be war and no quarter. Mrs. Rutland took Teecie into her clutches, and carried her oil', \ and I was left with George. I need not re peat all that passed between us. "Sir, " he said, "we have suffered your in* [ solent intrusion long enough. You leave this j house to-morrow morning." " Cousin George, " I said, "don't put your- i self in a passion. I will go to-morrow morn- ■ ing, but upon one condition—that Teecie Ray may come with me, if she will." He looked at me perfectly aghast. "Do you know." he said, "that she is a penniless, ' friendless orphan, whom I have sheltered through charity? " "I want to make her my wife," I said, sternly, "if, indeed, I be so'fortunate as to have won her affections." "And after that." ho said, with a sneer, "how do you propose to Bye? Upon air, or your friends ?" "Not upon you, George Rutland,"' I said, ' looking him steadily in the eyes: "Mark me, I have tried you out. 1 have sifted you, nil in | this house, like a handful of wheat. I found ' you all chaff, but the one golden grain which ties on my palm. 1 will keep it and treasure 1 it, if I may. God grant I may !" " Very line, " said George, " very fine. Re member, however, that from this moment I wash my hands of you both : you, Guy Rut land, and her, Teecie Ray.*.' " Amen ! " 1 said, and bade him good night, and turned on my heel and left him. Early the next morning 1 knocked at tho nursery door, and begged of Nurse to awake i Miss Teecie, and ask her to apeak with me in the garden. I then went out to wait for her. Ifwas ('hris tmas morning, the day of peace and BJOOd will. What I felt was scarcely peace, as ! I looked over the calm landscape. And yet 1 bore no ill will to any man or woman. Teecie came to me by-and-by : just the same old Teecie. limping over the frosty path in her short shabby frock, and looking half ashamed of her grand new crutches. I felt relieved when I saw her so.. I was shy of" the dainty lady whom I had called into existence the night before. And yet when I looked more closely, I knew that this was not quite the old Teecie, mad that the very same Teecie of a J day ago never, never, could come back. Some thing waaaltered. Whether the change was" 1 in hor or me, or in both of us, 1 did not in- j quire. The change was not an unpleasant one. Wo strolled out of the garden, and into the lane, and we talked earnestly all the way. On our way back 1 said: "And you're not afraid of starving with me, Teecie? You'll take the risk V One of her old nods was Tcecie's answer. " Go and fetch your hat, then," said I, "and we won't even wait for breakfast. Hon't bring anything else with you, not aj shred. I have still some halfpence left—out* of the guinea, yon know—and we'll get all we want.'* Teecie fetched her hat and returned, and we I set oil" together. An hour afterwards we were ! man ami wife. We said our prayers side by side In the church, and then we walked back to j Rutland Hall, to say good-by to our kinsfolk. I believe they all thought me mad, and her a 1 little fool;—at least until Cousin George re- j ceived the check, which 1 sent him next day: ! a check to cover the exp>,ts ■■> incurred by i Jiira through his charity o Teecie Ray. Then ! they began to wonder, and to waver. I took my j wife abroad, aud showed her the world. Time '' and care cured her of her tamaneas. It waa not surprising that on her return to England her kinsfolk should scarcely recognise her—Teecie Rutland, nee Ray—walking without crutches, and the wife of a millionaire ! Half a bride cake conciliated Lady Thornton, and the won derful guinea is still in my possession I call it Teecie's dower. The crutches, the donor of which I beg to assure you, major, was not Sir Harry, are also preserved as family curiosities. [Dickens.

! AND PISTOLS;—Wo invito tho : attention of the public to our stock of DOUBLE-BARREL SHOT GUNS, BREACH-LOADING RIFLES, I Smith and Wesson's celebrated BREACH-LOADING CARTRIDGE PISTOLS ! COLT'S AND OTHER REVOLVERS, . CARTRIDGES, POWDER AND SHOT, SHOT BELTS AND POUCHES, POWDER FLASKS, Ac. Orders received for any kind of SPORTING I ARMS OR PISTOLS. MITCHELL k TYLER, j *•**-* __ 108 Main street. a Ti L ED WMWKY for sale by dt 11—»t W. B*. JONES It CO. I

STEAMERS. SPECIAL ATTENTION OF THE PVB L 1 C-jfBW YOBB ABB IV2S&JBBiBWiI£3to old snd long-established Cobmmut/,1 In order to regain Its former position, wHlth was in terrupted by the late wsr, has, st considerable ex pense, fast completed the building of two supe rior shift-wheel Steamships,vli: tfis NIAGARA AND THB SABATOOA. In point of strength, speed and finish, ths public will soon discover that thsy ars aasouall* ed, and In command ot experienced and skllifol i seamen, viz : Captain* OBORGE W. COUCH and I \. L. KINO. Ths Parsers are well known to the | community, vli: Messrs. WILLIAM O. and J. M. SMITH. * _ _- _. These Steamers Will leavs Plsr Bo_M.Wortb ! river, New York, alternately srery WEBBESDAY ! andSATUKDAY»t*o'clock, P. M. a Returning, tbcr will lesrs Richmond eeery I TUESDAY and SATURDAY on iood-tide, touch ing at City Point snd Norfolk each way. to land alul receive passengers. ' . _,•___*« As they will come directly to the wharf st Rock ettH, the neeeasity for transhipment is avoided. For expedition snd security, this route, as past experience has proven, wHI b« found the best in every respect. Insurance, if at sll deemed neces i aary, can be effected on the moat moderate terms. The frequent changes, too, incident to the " In i land Sea" or Chesapeake Bay route, which Is so | Injurious to cargo, is avoided ; independent of which, in tbo event of any claim for damages or i for packages going astray, which may occasional - ] Iv occur, parties shipping _eir goods by this line I wilhiiave but one carrier ttPlook to for redress, as i there is no connection with other lines or carriers. ] All goods consigned to the agents in New York, ' for any part of the United States that can be reach jed by railroad or vessel, or, indeed, for any fo- I Bstsn destination, will be forwarded with prompt- I Unas. In the construction of these Steamers, special at -1 tent ion has been paid to the finish and comfort of j the Saloons aud State-Rooms, in order to induce I travel by them. Br this route the passenger avoids the many changes incident to all of the other routes in reaching New York or in returning home, inde pendent of the comforts by this safe and easy mode of taavsl. Its cheapness, over all others, is a mat ter of special attention and consideration. Passengers can secure their tickets and state rooms either on hoard or at my office. Freight solicited each way, and by application i the rates will be found moderate. j When ordering goods from New York, the pa trons ot the line arcs requested to order by the I " Old Line, New York and Virginia Steamship | Company." Pier 21, North river. Remember that there is no transhipment of goods ;by this line, and insurance, if deemed at all ne j eessary, can be effected for a trifle. ! The agents are 0. HKINEKEN k PALMORE, ! "New York ; J. M. SMITH k BRO.. Norfolk : XX ! VAN & BRO., Petersburg: JOHN. H. PE.MBER | TOB, Danville ; McftABIBL k lIiHTY. Lynchburg. GARRET P. WATSON, de 21—Sm Richmond. fj O R NE W YORK.—ATLANTIC J? M A I L ST BA M SHIP COM PANY.—The splendid new side wheel steamship HATTERAS, Lewis I Pakhish commander, ALBEMARLE, A. Bor/BAE commander, leuve Richmond every i TUESDAY and SATURDAY ; leave New York WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY. j These SHIPS are entirely new, and were built expressly for the route. They have splendid SALOONS and BTATE ROOMS.and the FARE, ACCOMMODATIONS and ATTENTION are unsurpassed, Pas-age, Meals and State-rooms included, FIF TH K.N DOLLARS. Goods shipped by this Line are landed regularly at New York, on the Company's covered pier, within forty-eight hours. Shippers "are invited to notice that the great damage and loss by handling, and exposure from frequent re-shipping, as on oilier lines, ia avoided by this route. Freights for points beyond New York will be for warded with diapstch, ammo charge made except actual expenses incurred. • These ships discharge cargo in New York at pier No. 3* North river, and the Company's ateamers for Wilmington, North Carolina; Charleston, Sa vannah, Mobile and New Orleans, leave from the same pier. Goods for these points can be trans ferred without expense or exposure. Insurance is very low by these ships, and the economy in time." insurance, and condition in i which goods are delivered, makes BBS the cheap- I est route from Virginia. Insurance effected at lowest rates, when ordered. LIVINGSTON. FOX k CO., Hi Broadway, New York. SAMUEL AYRES 4 CO., Richmond, Virginia. CALDWELL k DUNN, CityPoipt and Petersburg. S. C. ELLIOTT, Norfolk, Virginia. For freight or passage, apply to SAMUEL AYRES ft CO., Agents. Office Iron-front Buildings, Governor street, op posite First National Bank. de 21—3 m

BANKS AND BANKERS. ,~-~-~---~--- »w—vM>vv»vw<nli*iMwr ■ EXCBtAXOB AXD BaNKI.VU House OF) C. W. PcncßJU A Co.. > ! RicHMosn, December 19, 18«. J j SUBSCRIBER WILL RE-OPEN | 1 his house, at the <>LD STAND, (which has been rebuilt.) on MONDAY, the FIRST DAY OF JANU- A RY. IMB, and resume the EXCHANGE and BANK* ING BUSINESS in all its various departments. He liys associated with him Mr. BENJAMIN HART, of New York, and the business will be conducted un- ) der the name and style of C. W. PURCELL k CO. We will also establish our house in New York under the name and style of HART k PURCELL, No. 74 Broadway. We will be prepared to buy and sell Exchange both Foreign ana Domestic, Bank Notes. Gold and Silver Coins; buy and sell Gold aud Stocks on mar gins, and also make Negotiations and Loans on sa tisfactory securities. ' With an experience of twentv-fivo years, and with the patronage of our people during that pc- ] riod, I ask a continuance of their favors, for which 1 take this occasion to express my grateful acknow ledgments. fdelfr— lw| C. W. PURCELL. FARMERS' NATIONAL BANK OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, i ORGANIZED SEPTEMBER. 1865. AUTHORIZED CAPITAL, 8)500,000. NATHANIEL AUGUST, President. JOEL A. FITHIAN, Vice-President. L. P. HULBUKD, Cashier. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. NATHANIEL AUGUST, JOEL A. FITHIAN, JOHN W. HALL, J. L. APPERSOB, L. W. QLAZEBROOK, JOHN DOOLEY, W. B. McVEIGH, ** WALTER K.MARTIN, JOHN 11. GREANOR, HUGH W. FRY, H. B. DICKINSON. TKMroRARY OFFICE : 7 FOURTEENTH STREET, UNDEB EX CHANGE HOTEL. This Bank will RECEIVE DEPOSITS, BUY AND SELL EXCHANGE on all the PRINCIPAL CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, j CANADA AND EUROPE. Its services are respectfully tendered to all RANKS, BANKERS and OTHERS for the transac- j Hon <>f business. Especial attention given to COLLEC- I TloNSon all available points in the South, and prompt returns made. Highest price paid for Government securities. SAVINGS DEPARTMENT. With a view to encourage a spirit of economy, especially among the laboring and salaried classea, this Bank will receive deposits and grant certitt cates therefor, payable with interest and onde- I niand without notice. This system is in extensive operation In the j Northern cities end in Europe, ana its advantages are so apparent that none having idle capital should fall to avail themselves of iv benefita. dell—ta N. AUGUST, President. TTARRISON,GODDIN&APPERSON, | BANKERS AND REAL ESTATE AUCTIONEERS, ! (Second Floor. No. 231 Main street,) BUY AND SELL COIN, STERLINO, STOCKB, ! | B< »NDB, COUPONS AND BANK NOTES. Becslsa DEPOSITS on the most favorable terms. Malta COLLECTIONS in the United States, Cans- : das, West Indies and Europe. Advance on Produce in band or on consignment with bill lading. Sell and Lease Real Estate PUBLICLY or PBI- j HARRISON, GARTH k CO., Bankers, (Dabibl | Doimon, Cashier,) is New street, New York. WELLINGTON GODDIN, JAMES L. APPER SON, Richmond. SAMUEL J. HARRISON, DAVID J. OABTH, New York. de 11 10t BUCKS CELEBRATED FLOUR and other brands, . . i 6w barrels PRIME BUCK-EYE sod MERCIR *0 barrels CIDEIi'VINEGAR, SUPERIOB FAMILY SOAPS, - BOURBON and PURE OLD RYE WHISKY MANUFACTURED and LEAF TOBACCO SMOKING TOBACCO, in bulk and email packages; FlcfcEN k WILLIAMS'S REFINED BU PURE and EXTRA WHITS LEAP. I PHOSPHATES and BONE DUST. LIMS and CEMENT, * * SWEET CIDER. * PALMER, lIABTBOOK k CO., dell-lra_ Libby Buildings. AUAXN.-a B, BAN ..*T« KO *•«*"**. respectfully announeea that be will ho happy to meet his cusiomsrs st So. S4B Main street, opposite ths Spotawood Hotel. WATCHES, JEWELRY, « 7, experienced workmen. <ftil-ts *" w 8. B. lUIICBOIT.Afaa*. j

fUkILSmOADB.

nicaaoßo aanPAßTii.tßSafi.aoaß. > m SvsmaiaTßanßßT'B orriai, ' J BicaaoßP.Psssßiber It, vm. ) OF THE * linec/Ujsrosd. sfter Prfdsy, the Md on>ic*mb?r is«, until Taesday, the *ddsy of Jannary? is*. • THOaUnjK'naMBAD, Supsrlntsndent.

RICHMOND AND DANVILLE a V I WA J k-"£ HASOB 0F aXr-BaBULB.-on OEB TRAIN on this road will ran as follows: Leave Richmond dairy, Sundays excepted, st 7 st A.M. Arrive st Danville at IMP, M. .Leave Danville daily. Sundays excepted at sid k.U. Arrive In Richmond at /.UP M. :.*'*" Trains connect at Barkeville with train* on the Sonthsfde rallroadTor Lynchburg, snd st Danri'u with the trslns on tba Piedmont railroad f.,p Oreeesboro', Charlotte, Ac. THOMAS DODAMEAD. Superintendent.

VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILRfVW,, The following regular trains will be . V this road on and after THURSDAY, Decern'-*/ .'1 • " A MAIL TRAIN DAILY (except on 8uf»«a?»>. bV. tween Richmond and Staunton, leaving Mfhrnond at 7.45 A. M. and Sunn ton at * A. M. ATRI-WEEKLY MAIL TRAIN, leaving Stann. ton at 7 A. M. for the West, on Tuesdays, Thrrs days and Saturdays. THE MAIL TRAIN leaving Richmond connect with traimi on the ORANGE AND ALEXAJf DEI A RAILROAD. The DAY MAIL TRAIN connect I with STAGE COACHES at Staunton, Lexing.ou I WincbeHter, Ac. * The train west of Staunton connectswlth STAGR | COACHES for Rockbridge Baths, Rockbridge Alnm, Warm, Hot and Healing Springs, snd the White I Sulphur snd Lewisburg. [ A FREIGHT TRAIN between Richmond and Staunton connects with Freight Trains on Orange I and Alexandria railroad for Lynchburg and Alex andria. FREIGHT will be sent to any point on the Orange and Alexandria railroad without change of cars. Goods purchased in Northern cities can be sent direct to any station on this road where the com pany has an agent by consigning them to STE PHEN HUNTER, General Freight Agent, Rich mond. The charge for the transit through Rich mond, including wharfage, drayage, storage aud commissions, will not exceed ten cents per on* hundred pounds, and on heavy articles will be much less. Freights will be collected at dustina- Through tickets can be purchased at this office to Lynchburg, Bristol, Ruoxville, Chattanooga and Dalton. Tickets to Lexington, Va., at ail. Freight office at Richmond closed at * P. M. H. D. WHITCOMB, de 11—ts General Superintendent.

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POrrics Kichboxd, Fbbdbbickbbcbu asd) Potomac Railboad Coupamt, > Richmond, October37,a»«s. ) IE QUICKEST AND MOST DI RECT ROUTE TO THE NORTH AND WEST, ▼IA THB RICHMOND, FREDERICKSBURG. ANDPOTOMAC RAILROAD. THROUGH TO WASHINGTON IN SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS. TWO THROUGH TRAINS leave ths Depot, corner Broad and Eighth streets, Shockoe Hill, DAILY, (Sunday night excepted,) at 7A. M. aad B P. M., and arrive in Washington at 3.15 P. M and 4.29 A. M., connecting with the EARLY AFTERNOON AND MORNING EXPRESS TRAINS FOR THE NORTH AND WEST. THROUGH TICKETS TO ALEXANDRIA, WASH, INGTON, BALTIMORE PHILADELPHIA, NEW YORK, AND TO ALL THE PRINCIPAL CITIES IN THB WEST AND NORTHWEST. 'BAGGAGE checked through to Alexandria, Washington, Baltimore Philadelphia and New York, accompanied by through Baggage Masters. Passengers breakfast and sup a* ASHLAND, and dine on board POTOMAC STEAMERS. * For further information and throngh ticket*, ap ply at the offlce of the Company, corner Broad and Eighth streets, Shockoe Hill: at th« ortica of R. H. STROTHER, Exchange Broker, Main street, between Eighth and Ninth, nearly op posite Spotswood Hotel, and at Mesars. THOMAS & RICHARDSON'S Commission House, on Wall street, between Main and Franklin, in rear of St. Charles Hotel. SAMUEL RUTH, Superintendent. J. B. Gentbt, General Ticket Agent. LocisZimmeb, General Western Agent.

EXPRESS COMPANIES.

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rpHE NATIONAL EXPRESS AND TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, OFFICE ON MAIN STREET, BETWEEN THIR. TEENTH AND FOURTEENTH STREETS, RICHMOND, VA. t ARE NOW PREPARED TO FORWARD CURRENCY, COIN, VALUABLES . AND FREIGHT TO TOINTS NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST. The tariff of charges is based upon fair business principles, without being oppressive to the pjiblic. GOODS SHIPPED FROM THE NORTH by Rteamships and marked to the care of the Na tional Express and Transportation Company will be promptly forwarded to destination FREE OF CHARGE FOR COMMISSION OR DRAY AG L. Goods called for without charge and promptly forwarded. All desired Information in regard to the extent of the lines operated by this company furnished at any of the agencies on application. rj. E. JOHNSTON, President. * D. Imbodeic, General Superintendent.

* Kichxo.vb, Va., November 24, l»t>3. ! 4 DAMS EXPRESS COMPANY. GREAT EASTERN, WESTERN AND SOUTHERN EXPRESS FORWARDERS. ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY . are prepared with unequalled facilities to forward GOODS, VALUABLES AND MONEY TO EVEBT PART OF THE WORLD. : WAGONS will call at any part of ths city for GOODS without extra charge. All Express matter transported by this Company is forwarded by FAST EXPRESS, and not by SLOW FREIGHT TRAINS. Leave orders and make contracts at our offlce, i M 7 Main street. B. O. WESCOTT. j dell—lot Assistant Superintendent.^

Gl ARBER A CO.'S RICHMOND CITY IT OMNIBUS AND STAGE LINE. The proprietors would respectfully inform the traveling public thai, they have, at a heavy expense, sstabßsTed a Inn* oTaplendid FOUR-HORSE COACHES AND OM.M- BtsbS, lor the purpose of tran*porting ■massag***} and their baggage to and from tho different railroad depot* and steamboat landings, to and from all parts of the city, and respectfully solicit their pa tronage. Charges less than by any other conveyance. We have placed * OXES in the Ballard, kx rhangc, Spot* wood, Powhatan snd Monumental Hotel*, ujicre persons desiring to leave by any et the railroads or ateamers can leave their order* »J 7 o'clock, P. M., and will be called for next morn ing in time for the train or boat they wish to go on. i Orders cau alao be left at our oflce, comer of >e venteenth snd Marshall atreets. i PasMafsst going South dine at the Powhatan Hotel, our line of Coaches leaving there daily »« ».l»snd7.lsA. M. and 3.MP. M. and in time :« connect wtfi trains on the Richmond and Danviiio and Richmond and Peterabarg railroads, de il-*m qAKBERAtO 1" iQUOR&—LARGEST AND BEST J ASSORTMENT IN TOWN. _ ... .WIIBIKY of every grade, acme very line and old, OLDLONDON DOjAfJ BRANDY, liSl; COGNAC BRANDY, dark and pale; ___ , SHERRY, PORT WINES. 1 PINS OLD JAMAICA ABB ST. CROIX BUM, SCOTCH AND IRISH WHISKY, CHAMPAGNE, beat brands; CHERRY ABd APPLE BRANDT. _____ ENGLISH AND SCOTCH ALE ABB POBTER. HOLLAND GIN, FINE HAVANA CIGARS, ______ »__ far eale is Quantities to Butt !»____£__ best term*, by " - B. f BROWN. aslUla No.MMaUsai^a^aaaend.^