As for his wife, when the truth assumed an undoubted form, she sunk into mortified silence, and Fanny felt even worse than her mother, and for reasons that lay nearer her heart. In a little while the bride took her old place in society, and many who, in her seclusion, passed her coldly, or all unnoticed, met her now with smiles and with warm congratulations. Of all the changes that followed as a consequence of her marriage, there was none that filled her with so much delight as the improved prospects of her uncle, Mr. Hartman. Her husband became his fast friend, and sustained him through every difficulty. One home held them both. How purely and brightly the stream of Jessie's happiness flowed on, need not be told. Virtue and integrity of character had met their just reward. In adversity she was not cast down, and when prosperity again smiled she was not unduly elated. In either relation to society, she was a dispenser of blessings to those she loved. It is a fact worthy of notice, that those who looked down upon Jessie, and passed her unnoticed while she was only a governess, now referred to the noble, self-sacrificing spirit that prompted her to act as she had done, and spoke of her conduct with admiration. THE NEW YEAR'S GIFT. "JUST four weeks off," said a little boy, striking his hands together, "and papa will be home!" "Yes, four weeks more, and we shall see dear father. It will be the happiest New Year's day we ever had; won't it, mother?" said the little boy's sister, a bright smile playing over her face. "I hope so," replied the mother. "Father has been away so long, his coming home would make any day in the year a happy one." "I wonder what he will bring me for a New Year's present?" said the boy. "I know what I'll get," said the little sister. "What?" "A hundred kisses." "Oh! I don't care much for kisses." "But I do; and I'm sure of getting them." "I wonder what mamma will get?" "I know!" replied the sister, with an arch smile. "What?" "Just what I will." And the little girl looked at her mother, and smiled still more archly. "A hundred kisses, you mean?" "We'll see." The mother's hand rested from her work, and she looked at her children, with a calm, yet happy face. Their words had caused her to realize, in imagination, with more than usual distinctness, the fact of her husband's return, which he had written would be on the first day of the coming new year. He had been away for many months, and home had hardly seemed like home during his absence. "We mustn't think too much about it," said the mother, "or we will get so impatient for dear father's return as to make ourselves unhappy. I am sure we will all love him better than ever we did, when he does come home!" "I am sure I will," returned the little girl. "Oh! I think I never loved him so well in my life as I have since he has been away." Thus talked the mother and her children of the return of one whose presence was so dear to them all.