THE HAMPER FROM HOME. 171

bring it into the school-room. In truth,
Mertoun was quite as eager as his brother
to unpack the hamper. Not that, in his
present frame of mind, he cared for its
contents; but since he could not be alone,
he sound some new excitement, which
might divert his thoughts into a new
channel, and he was not disappointed.
The arrival of a hamper was an event
of no small importance in Charlton school ;
and no sooner did it make its appearance,
than it was welcomed with a shout of
acclamation, and a general crowding to-
gether of Harry’s friends, Its contents
were explored, and submitted to the in-
Spection of the by-standers. It was de-
clared to be a capital hamper.

“Harry knows how to seep his _birth-
day,” said one,

“And his friends seem to understand