Many merry Christmases, many happy New Years. Unbroken friendships, great accumulations of cheerful recollections and affections on earth, and heaven for us all.

A modest ring at the bell at length allayed her fears, and Miss Benton, hurrying into her own room and shutting herself up, in order that she might preserve that appearance of being taken by surprise which is so essential to the polite reception of visitors, awaited their coming with a smiling countenance.

We part with tender relations stretching far behind us, that never can be exactly renewed, and with others dawning - yet before us.

Poetry's unnat'ral; no man ever talked poetry 'cept a beadle on boxin' day.

Sir," returned Mrs. Sparsit, " I cannot say that i have heard him precisely snore, and therefore must not make that statement. But on winter evenings, when he has fallen asleep at his table, I have heard him, what I should prefer to describe as partially choke. I have heard him on such occasions produce sounds of a nature similar to what may be heard in dutch clocks. Not," said Mrs. Sparsit, with a lofty sense of giving strict evidence, " That I would convey any imputation on his moral character. Far from it.

I had considered how the things that never happen, are often as much realities to us, in their effects, as those that are accomplished.

[S]he stood for some moments gazing at the sisters, with affection beaming in one eye, and calculation shining out of the other.