The visitors soon began to arrive. There were among them some amusing characters, so well supported as to give rise during the evening to many entertaining scenes; but to me this was the group and this the incident of the evening. Not a group or an incident for prurient curiosity or frivolous jest, but for an earnest and reverent recognition of that beautiful law imposed on Nature by her Great Author, by which the feeble delight in receiving, and the strong in giving support--that law by which a pure and self-abnegating affection is made the source of life in all its commingling relations--of its duties and its sympathies--its joys and its sorrows--of its severest probation and its loftiest development. It was in the solemnity of spirit, engendered by thoughts like these, that I stood at the window of my room, looking forth upon the still and moonlit night, long after our friends had left us. My door opened softly and Annie glided in, and ere I was aware of her presence, was standing beside me with her head resting on my shoulder. A tear was on the cheek to which I pressed my lips. A few whispered words told me whence the ring came--but not for the public are the pure, guileless confidences of that hour. Our holiday festivities were over, and the next day the Christmas Guests departed. They had stepped aside awhile from the dusty thoroughfares on which they were accustomed to pursue their several avocations, for the interchange of friendly sympathy with each other, and the offering of grateful hearts to Heaven, and now they were returning, cheered and strengthened to their allotted work. Reader, go thou and do likewise "Like a star That maketh not haste, That taketh no rest, Let each be fulfilling His God-given best." THE END. _D. Appleton & Co.'s Publications._ Novels, Tales, &c. _AGUILAR, G_.--A MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE. 12mo., paper, 50c.; cloth, 75c. ---- WOMEN OF ISRAEL. Two vols. 12mo., paper, $1; cloth, $1 50c. ---- VALE OF CEDARS. 12mo., cloth, 75c.; paper, 50c. ---- WOMAN'S FRIENDSHIP, cloth, 75c.; paper, 50c. _ADRIAN_; OR, THE CLOUDS OF THE MIND. By G. P. R. James and M. B. Field. 12mo., cloth, $1. _CORBOULD'S_ HISTORY AND ADVENTURES OF MARGARET CATCHPOLE. 8vo., 2 plates, paper cover, 25c. _DUMAS_' MARGUERITE DE VALOIS. A Novel. 8vo., 25c. _DUPUY, A. E_.--THE CONSPIRATOR. 12mo., cloth, 75c.; paper, 50c. _ELLEN PARRY_; OR, TRIALS OF THE HEART. 12mo., 63c.; paper, 88c. _ELLEN MIDDLETON_. A Tale by Lady Fullerton. 12mo., paper, 50c.; cloth, 75c. _HEARTS UNVEILED_; OR, "I KNEW YOU WOULD LIKE HIM." By Mrs. Saymore. 12mo., paper, 50c.; cloth, 75c. _HOME IS HOME_; A DOMESTIC STORY. 12mo., paper, 50c.; cloth, 75c. _HELOISE_; OR, THE UNREVEALED SECRET. By Talvi. 12mo., cloth, 75c.; paper, 50c. _HOWITT, MARY_. THE HEIR OF WAST WAYLAND. 12mo., paper, 38c.; cloth, 50c. _IO_; A TALE OF THE ANCIENT FANE. By Barton. 12mo., 75c.