As Armstrong had no intimation of the check which his projects had received, and as he was convinced that Helen’s fear of him would lead her to carry out his commands, he stealthily approached the house the following evening, as he had intended. The door had been purposely left unlocked; but, in the room adjoining, four stout men had been stationed, who at once seized upon the unsuspecting burglar, and, in spite of his violent struggles, bound him. Thus secured, Mr. Gregory, who was one of the four, explained to him in what manner his crime had been defeated, and added,— “Although you have been detected in crime, and richly deserve the penalty which the offended law affixes to it, I have been induced by Helen to afford you a chance of escaping. I will furnish you a ticket entitling you to a passage in the next California steamer, and will not reveal your guilty attempt, if you will engage to leave the country immediately. Should you fail to go, I shall feel released from the promise I have made to Helen, and at once cause you to be arrested.” It is needless to say that Armstrong at once accepted these terms; and the next steamer bound to the Pacific bore him a passenger. As for Helen, the cloud which shadowed her earlier years has quite disappeared; and in the affection of the home circle, to which her many good qualities endear her, she finds all that can make life pleasant and agreeable. GERALDINE. When the summer, crowned with blossoms, Robes with beauty all the trees, And, with pérfumed breath and fragrant, Loads the idly-floating breeze, Then, with cheerful steps and airy, O’er the fields with flowers upspringing, Comes our pleasant household fairy, Fragrant blossoms round her flinging, While the birds that haunt the tree-tops Pause to listen to her singing. Ever cheerful, ever smiling, Is the gay, warm-hearted maiden; And her sunny presence gladdens Hearts with deepest sorrow laden. Very few there are, I ween, Quite as fair as Geraldine. When the autumn,—nut-brown autumn,— With its wealth of golden sheaves, Lends a new flush to the apples Peeping from the orchard leaves, Forth unto the sunny harvest Rides she in the farmer’s wain, Who, with busy hand and tireless, Gathers in the golden grain; And she cheers his pleasant labor With a gay, unstudied strain. Ever cheerful, ever smiling, Is the gay, warm-hearted maiden; And her sunny presence gladdens Hearts with deepest sorrow laden. Ah! there can be none, I ween, Quite so fair as Geraldine. THE CHRISTMAS GIFT. Heavily, heavily fell the snow, covering the dark-brown earth, already hardened by the frost, with a pure white covering. As the rain falls alike upon the just and upon the unjust; so, too, the snow, God’s kindred messenger, knows no distinction of persons,—visiting all alike, forgetting none, and passing by none.