THE NOTITCROFT LILIES.

 What are you practising for, Gertrude ? Why,
your fingers are as cold as ice! Come and warm
them ."
 Effie was usually so calm and cool abott things,
and so apt to laugh at any one who cared for such
trifles as cold fingers, that Gertrude's little sensitive
heart was touched by her kindness, and she threw
herself on the hearthrug by her sister's side, and
burst into a passion of tears.
 Effie let her cry on. She felt sure she was acting
wisely, and wisdom for once, under the guise of
kindness, answered her purpose well. She thought
Gertrude childish, but she made allowance for her,
and from the heights of her superior calm felt herself
acting quite a motherly part by her little impulsive
sister; and it was very true that no plan could have
suggested itself more likely to turn Gertrude's thoughts
from herself than the one in her mind. Presently she
said, Gertrude, I have an idea in my head I think
you will like. Don't you think it would be nice to
have a Christmas-tree for the school children ?"
 Why, Effie, there are three hundred boys and
two hundred and seventy girls! We should want a
dozen trees. Besides, they would not care for Christmas-
trees-it would be no good !"
 Effie was slightly taken aback, but, skilful diplo-
matist as she was, she forbore to remark on her
sister's impetuosity. I meant the infant-school
children, dear," she said.
 "Ah! well, that's something like! Let me see,
there are a hundred and twenty-nine of them, with
that poor little cripple, Harry White. It would want
an immense tree, though, Effie, and what should we
put on it ?"
 Gertrude was thoroughly roused now, and Effle
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