s: Not the arm of your might makes it boast of our flight,


s: But the musters that failed at the moment of call--


s: Five banners were furl'd that might challenge the world,


s: Of their silk not a pennon was spread to the day;


s: Where is Cromarty's earl, with the fearless of peril,


s: Young Barisdale's following, Mackinnon's array?


s: Where the sons of the glen, the Clan-gregor, in vain


s: That never were hail'd to the carnage of war--


s: Where Macvurich, the child of victory styled?


s: How we sigh'd when we learn'd that his host was afar!


s: Clan-donuil, my bosom friend, woe that the blossom


s: That crests your proud standard, for once disappear'd,


s: Nor marshall'd your march, where your princely deserts


s: Without stain might the cause of the right have uprear'd!


s: And now I say woe, for the sad overthrow


s: Of the clan that is honour'd with Frazer's command,


s: And the Farquharsons bold on the Mar-braes enroll'd,


s: So ready to rise, and so trusty to stand.


s: But redoubled are shed my tears for the dead,


s: As I think of Clan-chattan, the foremost in fight;


s: Oh, woe for the time that has shrivell'd their prime,


s: And woe that the left had not stood at the right!


s: Our sorrows bemoan gentle Donuil the Donn,


s: And valorous Raipert the chief of the true-heart,


s: Who fought till the beat of its energy ceased.


s: In the mist of that night vanish'd stars that were bright,


s: Nor by tally nor price shall their worth be replaced;


s: Ah, boded the morning of our brave unreturning,


s: When it drifted the clouds in the rush of its blast.


s: As we march'd on the hill, such the floods that distil,


s: Turning dry bent to bog, and to plash-pools the heather,


s: That friendly no more was the ridge of the moor,


s: Nor free to our tread, and the ire of the weather


s: Anon was inflamed by the lightning untamed,


s: And the hail rush that storm'd from the mouth of the gun,


s: Hard pelted the stranger, ere we measured our danger,


s: And broadswords were masterless, marr'd, and undone.


s: Sure as answers my song to its title, a wrong


s: To our forces, the wiles of the traitor have wrought;


s: To each true man's disgust, the leader in trust


s: Has barter'd his honour, and infamy bought.


s: His gorget he spurns, and his mantle he turns,


s: And for gold he is won, to his sovereign untrue;


s: But a turn of the wheel to the liar will deal,


s: From the south or the north, the award of his due.


s: And fell William, the son of the man on the throne,


s: Be his emblem the leafless, the marrowless tree;


s: May no sapling his root, and his branches no fruit


s: Afford to his hope; and his hearth, let it be


s: As barren and bare--not a partner to share,


s: Not a brother to love, not a babe to embrace;


s: Mute the harp, and the taper be smother'd in vapour,


s: Oh, yet shall the eye see thee swinging on high,


s: And thy head shall be pillow'd where ravens shall prey,


s: And the lieges each one, from the child to the man,


s: The monarch by right shall with fondness obey.


s: George the First's Queen was a divorcée. The Jacobites retorted


s: _Glengyle_, and his Macgregors, were on their way from the


s: Macpherson of Clunie, the hero of the night skirmish at Clifton,


s: Macdonald of the Isles refused to join the Prince.


s: Of the routed army, the division whereof the Frazers formed the


s: The Mackintoshes, whose impetuosity hurried the right wing into


s: An allusion to the provocation given to the Macdonalds of


s: The unfortunate night-march of the Highlanders is described with


s: Roy Stuart lived and died in the belief (most unfounded, it


s: seems), that Lord George Murray was bribed and his army betrayed.


s: Military orders received from the Court of St Germains.


s: False friends! from me that banish'd thee,


s: _Bawsint_, a white spot on the forehead of cow or horse.


s: _Blewart_, a flower, the blue bottle, witch bells.


s: _Bob_, nosegay, bunch, or tuft; also to curtsey.


s: _Bonspiel_, a match at archery, curling, golf, or foot-ball.


s: _Braken_, the female fern (_pterisaquilina_, Linn.)


s: _Camstrarie_, froward, cross, and unmanageable.


s: _Cantrips_, spells, charms, incantations.


s: _Croodle_, to coo as a dove, to sing with a low voice.


s: _Crowdy_, meal and cold water stirred together.


s: _Fend_, to provide for oneself, also to defend.


s: _Hinney_, honey, also a term of endearment.


s: _Kippered_, salmon salted, hung and dried.


s: _Leeze me_, a term of congratulatory endearment.


s: _Runts_, the trunks of trees, the stem of colewort.


s: _Scroggie_, abounding with stunted bushes.


s: _Skipt_, went lightly and swiftly along.


s: _Staigie_, the diminutive of staig, a young horse.


s: hyphenation inconsistencies have been rationalised.]


s: "Sic as folk tell ower at a winter ingle"


s: _A modern version of an old English Chronicle._


s: In the year of our Lord 1200, when the city of Acon, that in this


s: But these same princes of Vaws brought with them out of Ind books


s: Now when Christ was born of the Virgin Mary for salvation of all


s: But what was done with these gifts, ye shall learn hereafter.


s: And the Kings were so aghast and so devout and fervent in their


s: habitation of Prester John that is called lord of Ind, and there


s: Then, anon, Asso sent privily by his keepers to the Archbishop of


s: "He laughed fit to make the plates rattle, his little brown eyes


s: "Holy Virgin! and I, who love truffles as----Hurry; give me my


s: "Oh, as big as that! reverend Father. Enormous!"


s: sacristan, the better to tempt the reverend Father to commit the


s: "Roasted turkeys; golden carp; trout as large as that!"


s: "Good-evening, good-evening, Master Arnoton."


s: "Good-evening, good-evening, my children."


s: "What a revel we are going to have after Mass!"


s: "Hurry up, hurry up. We'll soon be done; we'll soon be at table!"


s: Or, perhaps he saw pass the files of little pages bearing dishes


s: The second Mass begins, and with it begins also the sin of Dom


s: Drelindin din! Drelindin din! The third Mass begins.


s: "Hurry up, hurry up; still faster, still faster!"


s: Five minutes later the crowd of seigneurs was seated in the grand


s: _A Love-Passage from a Wandering Cossack._


s: "Dressed in his everlasting blue frock, he sat near the fire


s: "Do not look at me like that; you will make me cry."


s: "Oh, leave her in peace, Kondratievna," said Natacha. "Run away,


s: "A handful of corn?" said Micha, laughing.


s: "And you, Fédor, can you give me a piece of chalk?"


s: "You! Fleas and grasshoppers, you may depend upon it!"


s: Natacha went on. "Good God! have mercy, have mercy!" she said to


s: "Sonia, what is this tune?" she said, playing a few notes.


s: "For some fresh water to finish my drawing."


s: "You are always busy and I never. Where is Nicolas?"


s: "Go and wake him, Sonia. Tell him to come and sing."


s: drawing-room. Perhaps he came yesterday and I have forgotten."


s: "Ah, here she is," said her father. "Come and sit down here." But


s: "Oh, mamma, bring him to me, give him to me soon, very soon," she


s: After tea Sonia, Natacha, and Nicolas huddled together in their


s: "He had white teeth and stared at us with his black eyes."


s: "I do not want it now; send it away again, Polia." said Natacha.


s: "Yes, we are studying philosophy," said Natacha, and they went on


s: "May I join the party?" asked Dimmler, coming towards them.


s: "If we were once angels, how is it that we have fallen lower?"


s: "Lower? Who says that it is lower? Who knows what I was?" Natacha


s: The young people had all vanished; but half an hour later an old


s: "Lead the way, Zakhare!" cried Nicolas, to his father's coachman,


s: "Nothing," said he, returning to his former position.


s: "That I believe is Natacha?" said Nicolas. "And that little


s: Circassian--who is he? I do not know him, but I like his looks


s: "Better and better," said Nicolas to himself; "now we are in an


s: "That one, who is she?" she asked the governess, stopping a Kazan


s: When they had danced all the national dances, ending with the


s: "Oh! you would never dare to do it; you must be very brave."


s: "But, mamma, you know you wanted to try your fortune too."


s: "Tell us, mother, what happened to you in the barn."


s: "Yes, I will go," said Sonia. "Let me go."


s: "Go by all means if you are not afraid."


s: "May I, Madame Schoss?" said Sonia to the governess.


s: "I am afraid of nothing," she declared. She rose, asked her way,


s: "You should not laugh," said the maid, very gravely.


s: Sonia sat down and fixed her eyes on the mirror.


s: "Then I saw only confusion--red and blue."


s: "A felicitous combination of the German, the Sclave, and the


s: Semite, with grand features, brown hair floating in artistic


s: Far behind him, forgotten, lay his home in the dim distance!


s: Suddenly he saw on the roadside an old man. He was sitting on his


s: "A white-haired, thin-visaged, weather-worn old gentleman in a


s: The shutters of a little spur of warehouses which breaks out into


s: discipline, and so he thought to himself.


s: "We did, father! Leastwise it was Polly's present," said Molly.


s: "Not Jacob Tripple! No, no, not good Jake Tripple?" said David,


s: "What reminds you, father?" asked the twins, in chorus.


s: "Why, coming home!" said David, not very intelligibly.


s: "What coming home?" again from the chorus, in expectant attitude.


s: And now, while the Little Scout--in fulfilment of her established


s: Christmas morning had opened brightly with David Dubbs. The sun,


s: preceded down the court by hustling winds that knocked at every


s: shop-door and followed them up the creaking stairs.


s: Polly opened the box and extracted a pasteboard plane with some


s: All were duly in their places, and David had, in accordance with


s: "What!" said David, snatching it and reading it aloud to himself,


s: Never was a turkey enjoyed so much, and never had a turkey better


s: "Yes, father," replied Polly, "right off."


s: application but was of a general nature--when, to resume, Emanuel


s: "Can't do what?" exclaimed Mr. Griffin, with surprise and dismay.


s: "Can't send it out," returned the young man, firmly.


s: "That is very high, Cuffy;" to which that young man replied,--


s: Mr. Griffin paid the bill and hurried out, took a car at the next


s: "The turkey has not arrived,--that is all."


s: Mr. Fred was of a similar opinion, and even more violent in his


s: denunciation of David, as he had set his heart on turkey, and the


s: All the ladies and gentlemen were of various opinions, but all


s: "A letter for you, sir, left for me to deliver."


s: He took it, and David continued tremulously to say,--


s: "Why, a splendid turkey, with your card kindly----"


s: "Be off, now!" he cried after him, "you ungrateful, deceitful old


s: The snow came on thicker and thicker, and had begun to whiten the


s: A light was streaming out from the windows of the old warehouse,


s: "Sir: The connection of my father, David Dubbs, Esq., with your


s: counting-house, will cease from this day forth.


s: "He seemed to be a kind of connecting link between the old times


s: wide-mouthed gargoyle of a Gothic cathedral.


s: "The herald's, proclaiming a still Christmas," answered Cicely,


s: "That were well-nigh impossible," said her sister, laughing; but


s: "Not so thought my godfather, kind Master Breton," said Annis,


s: carnage, and--so say some ancient writers--from the bite of rabid


s: bright-brown nuts that seemed to tempt the flames.


s: "You are far too young to think of men at all," answered Annis,


s: Welcome now the good cheer of Christmas-night! Welcome the


s: "It was not you at all," returned Cicely, "but the mistletoe. We


s: "As he sat there with a sou'wester down over his ears, in a long


s: pilot coat, his figure appeared to assume quite supernatural


s: proportions, and you might almost imagine that you had one of the


s: "Ugh, boy!" Then he added more gently,--"Why, you are not so much


s: "How fast you are walking!" said Blessom.


s: "I have a long distance to go in order to get home this evening,"


s: "To Vaage," answered the man, and walked on.


s: "You had better hold fast," said the stranger.


s: "I am," said the man, and the spray whirled about them.


s: "It seems to me we are moving through the air," said he.


s: "Dear me! is not this Knud the fiddler?" cried she.


s: "Now I feel very comfortable; let me rest a little while."


s: And he was allowed to rest on Thrond's bed.


s: "Dear child, you have had bad dreams," said she, and took him up.


s: And she went in to get it. But one of the men said,--


s: "_He_ can have that," and he pointed at Thrond.


s: "Use it as well as _he_ who is now lying _here_," added the other


s: "Carry it in and find out," said the mother.


s: He weighed it and turned it round, he laughed and felt of it.


s: "Dear me! what is it?" asked he, for it was as light as a toy.


s: This was the way that Thrond Alfson got his first violin.


s: "Will we soon see the church?" he asked over his shoulder.


s: "As soon as you reach that crag yonder, you will see it."


s: "Now I must play," thought Thrond, and tried to do so.


s: He changed the tune that was meant to represent the church into


s: "We have had many a happy hour together," said he, then paused.


s: Presently he said, "The strings must be severed, for they are


s: "A great, long devil of a Spahi in his red burnous."


s: Garibaldi. Being a bachelor, Dominique was none the less ready to


s: Mary blushed, and tried to turn the conversation.


s: "What do they do with themselves all day long?" she asked.


s: "I presume that monsieur wishes to see as much of the country as


s: "Does mademoiselle ride?" asked the gallant Capitaine.


s: Then the Capitaine talked of Christmas-day.


s: We had been twice so shocked and surprised that we had no more


s: "I have a very humble apartment," he said; "but if monsieur and


s: A hundred yards behind us, his bright-brown body sharply outlined


s: We had invited the young Lieutenant to drink tea with us at eight


s: accomplishments, and then to catechise him on military matters.


s: between the two. It was very mortifying for the Capitaine and the


s: "Not a bit of it. We shall have no rain until a fortnight after


s: "Yes; it would be very _triste_ here without the little thing."


s: "Do you like fighting the Arabs in the Desert, then, monsieur?"


s: picturesqueness of the last few days--for Mary had an artistic


s: Our host, the Capitaine, had provided a sumptuous feast of Desert


s: bananas, with the addition of champagne; and we were very merry.


s: "And what does our Lieutenant advise monsieur to do?" asked the


s: "He says nothing," said Mary, looking down; "and,"--here came a


s: "His state of feeling does not help us much, unless expressed," I


s: The little thing plucked at the folds of her riding-skirt in the


s: "I like the Général and I like the Commandant, and I ought not to


s: I broke the seal of the Général's letter, which ran as follows:


s: "Monsieur,--This morning at daybreak I received telegraphic


s: without delay. Judge, monsieur, how more than sorry I am to be


s: forced to quit the society of your charming sister and yourself


s: "I feel it right, under the grave circumstances of the revolt, to


s: escort to be in readiness for you when you shall require it.


s: "Meantime, receive, monsieur, the expression of my utmost esteem.


s: "And there was mounting in hot haste; the steed,


s: The mustering squadron, and the clattering car


s: Went pouring forward with impetuous speed."


s: "Bah!" he cries, "it's all play; let 'em pretend to put down


s: insurrection as often as they please. It is good for trade and


s: promotion, and the Arabs know how to defend themselves."


s: So, Now is Come Our Joyful'st Feast... _George Wither_


s: Hang Up the Baby's Stocking........... [Emily Huntington Miller]


s: A Christmas Letter from Australia..... _Douglas Sladen_


s: Little Roger's Night in the Church.... _Susan Coolidge_


s: Mr. Bluff's Experiences of Holidays... _Oliver Bell Bunce_


s: Christmas is our most important holiday, and its literature is


s: mythology and customs the more beautiful parts for its own use.


s: The ancient Goths and Saxons called this festival Yule, which is


s: With the rise of Puritanism the very existence of Christmas was


s: "Some say, that ever 'gainst that season comes


s: Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,


s: The bird of dawning singeth all night long:


s: And then, they say, no spirit can walk abroad;


s: The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,


s: No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm;


s: So hallow'd and so gracious is the time."


s: Even the Christmas dinner has its special observances. In many an


s: "Ring out false pride in place and blood,


s: We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the


s: Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.


s: Papa says "If you see it in _The Sun_ it's so."


s: Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?


s: You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise


s: Where meek souls will receive Him still,


s: Then hang the green coronet of the Christmas-tree with glittering


s: O than the fairest day, thrice fairer night!


s: Night to blest days in which a sun doth rise


s: Of which that golden eye which clears the skies


s: And blessed ye, in silly pastor's sight,


s: Mild creatures, in whose warm crib now lies


s: That heaven-sent youngling, holy-maid-born wight,


s: Midst, end, beginning of our prophecies!


s: Blest cottage that hath flowers in winter spread,


s: Though withered--blessed grass that hath the grace


s: Thus sang, unto the sounds of oaten reed,


s: Before the Babe, the shepherds bowed on knees;


s: And springs ran nectar, honey dropped from trees.


s: The Magi mused, "more bright than morn?"


s: "What means that star," the Shepherds said,


s: "That brightens through the rocky glen?"


s: Sang, "Peace on earth, good-will to men!"


s: Sing, "Peace on earth, good-will to men!"


s: His breast with thoughts of boundless sway;


s: One that shall thrill the world for ever!


s: Man's doom was link'd, no more to sever,


s: The peaceful Prince of Earth and Heaven,


s: Brightest and best of the Sons of the morning!


s: Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid!


s: Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid!


s: Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining,


s: Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;


s: Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,


s: Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,


s: Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?


s: Vainly with gifts would His favor secure:


s: Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.


s: God rest ye, merry gentlemen; let nothing you dismay,


s: For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas-day.


s: God rest ye, little children; let nothing you affright,


s: For Jesus Christ, your Saviour, was born this happy night;


s: Along the hills of Galilee the white flocks sleeping lay,


s: When Christ, the child of Nazareth, was born on Christmas-day.


s: God rest ye, all good Christians; upon this blessed morn


s: The Lord of all good Christians was of a woman born:


s: Now all your sorrows He doth heal, your sins He takes away;


s: Where one young lamb just lifts his head,


s: Heaven's angels kneel and fold their wings.


s: They brought Thee gifts of gold and gems,


s: Through heaven, through earth, hosannas ring.


s: Happy night and happy silence downward softly stealing,


s: Stars from golden censors swing a silent eager feeling


s: And all the wistful air, and earth, and sky,


s: Listened, listened for the gladness of a cry.


s: Holy night, a sudden flash of light its way is winging:


s: Hark, the angel voices, hark, the angel voices singing;


s: Lo, all the wistful air, and earth, and sky,


s: Listen, listen to the gladness of the cry.


s: Happy night at Bethlehem; soft little hands are feeling,


s: Little hands, and eyelids closed in sleep, while angels kneeling,


s: Wide, as if the light were music, flashes adoration:


s: All the silence thrills, and speeds the message of salvation:


s: "Peace on earth, good-will to men of peace."


s: Holy night, thy solemn silence evermore enfoldeth


s: Angels songs and peace from God on high:


s: Holy night, thy watcher still with faithful eye beholdeth


s: Lo, hushed is strife in air, and earth, and sky,


s: Still thy watchers hear the gladness of the cry.


s: Praise Him, ye who watch the night, the silent night of ages:


s: Praise Him, shepherds, praise the Holy Child;


s: Praise Him, ye who hear the light, O praise Him, all ye sages;


s: Praise Him, children, praise Him meek and mild.


s: Lo, peace on Earth, glory to God on high,


s: "To Bethlem did they go, the shepherds three;


s: To Bethlem did they go to see whe'r it were so or no,


s: Guiding-star across the housetops; never fear the Shepherds felt


s: Till they found the Babe in manger where the kindly cattle knelt.


s: (Ah, would my door might have been thrown


s: The gentle cows breathed fragrant breath


s: While loud and clear, o'er hill and dale,


s: These were Thy neighbors, Christmas Child;


s: When they sought Him, there they found Him,


s: More bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains


s: Which first proclaim the new-born light,


s: The Word, which heaven and earth did make,


s: You gentle flocks, whose fleeces pearled with dew,


s: Resemble heaven, whom golden drops make bright,


s: Our pipes make sport to shorten weary night:


s: Tunes can we hear, but not the singers see,


s: The tunes divine, and so the singers be.


s: Yet from their beams proceedeth not this light,


s: Nor can their crystals such reflection give.


s: What then doth make the element so bright?


s: The heavens are come down upon earth to live


s: For lo! the world's great Shepherd now is born,


s: A blessed Babe, an Infant full of power:


s: Clouded in flesh, yet, shepherds, sit we here!


s: Earth slakes at last her ancient thirst;


s: Herod, thou writhest, but canst not sting.


s: While shepherds watch'd their flocks by night,


s: Like small curled feathers, white and soft,


s: The shepherds slept; and, glimmering faint,


s: Nor knew the light that dimmed the stars


s: The shepherds sought the white-walled town,


s: The first century of colonial life saw few set times and days for


s: Run, shepherds, run where Bethlehem blest appears.


s: We bring the best of news; be not dismayed:


s: A Saviour there is born more old than years,


s: Amidst heaven's rolling height this earth who stayed.


s: A weakling did him bear, who all upbears;


s: There is he poorly swaddled, in manger laid,


s: To whom too narrow swaddlings are our spheres:


s: Run, shepherds, run, and solemnize his birth.


s: This is that night--no, day, grown great with bliss,


s: In heaven be glory, peace unto the earth!


s: Thus singing, through the air the angels swarm,


s: Sleeps, laid within some ark of flowers,


s: Spangled with dew-light; thou canst clear


s: Declare to us, bright star, if we shall seek


s: Oh! clear and shining light, whose beams


s: Three Wise Men out of the East were they,


s: And they traveled by night and they slept by day,


s: For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star.


s: The star was so beautiful, large and clear,


s: And by this they knew that the coming was near


s: Three caskets they bore on their saddle-bows,


s: Their robes were of crimson silk, with rows


s: Of bells and pomegranates and furbelows,


s: Their turbans like blossoming almond-trees.


s: And so the Three Kings rode into the West,


s: Through the dusk of night over hill and dell,


s: And sometimes they nodded with beard on breast,


s: And sometimes talked, as they paused to rest,


s: With the people they met at some wayside well.


s: "Of the child that is born," said Baltasar,


s: "Good people, I pray you, tell us the news;


s: And have ridden fast, and have ridden far,


s: And the people answered, "You ask in vain;


s: We know of no king but Herod the Great!"


s: As they spurred their horses across the plain


s: Herod the Great, who had heard this thing,


s: Sent for the Wise Men and questioned them;


s: So they rode away, and the star stood still,


s: Yes, it stopped, it stood still of its own free will,


s: The city of David where Christ was born.


s: And the Three Kings rode through the gate and the guard,


s: Through the silent street, till their horses turned


s: And neighed as they entered the great inn-yard;


s: But the windows were closed, and the doors were barred,


s: In the air made sweet by the breath of kine,


s: For the joy of life and the terror of death


s: And the mother wondered and bowed her head,


s: Of an endless reign and of David's throne.


s: Then the Kings rode out of the city gate,


s: But they went not back to Herod the Great,


s: For they knew his malice and feared his hate,


s: And returned to their homes by another way.


s: All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies;


s: To wanton with the sun, her lusty paramour.


s: To hide her guilty front with innocent snow;


s: The saintly veil of maiden-white to throw;


s: Should look so near upon her foul deformities.


s: She, crowned with olive green, came softly sliding


s: With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing;


s: She strikes a universal peace through sea and land.


s: The idle spear and shield were high uphung;


s: The trumpet spake not to the armèd throng;


s: As if they surely knew their sovereign lord was by.


s: His reign of peace upon the earth began:


s: While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmèd wave.


s: Bending one way their precious influence;


s: Or Lucifer had often warned them thence:


s: Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go.


s: The sun himself withheld his wonted speed,


s: The new-enlightened world no more should need;


s: Than his bright throne, or burning axletree, could bear.


s: Was kindly come to live with them below;


s: Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep,


s: Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.


s: As all their souls in blissful rapture took:


s: With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close.


s: Of Cynthia's seat, the airy region thrilling,


s: And that her reign had here its last fulfilling;


s: Could hold all heaven and earth in happier union.


s: That with long beams the shame-faced night arrayed;


s: Are seen in glittering ranks with wings displayed,


s: With unexpressive notes, to Heaven's new-born heir.


s: But when of old the sons of morning sung,


s: And the well-balanced world on hinges hung,


s: And bid the weltering waves their oozy channel keep.


s: If ye have power to touch our senses so;


s: And let the bass of Heaven's deep organ blow;


s: Make up full concert to the angelic symphony.


s: Time will run back, and fetch the age of gold;


s: And leprous Sin will melt from earthly mould;


s: And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day.


s: Orbed in a rainbow; and, like glories wearing,


s: With radiant feet the tissued clouds down steering;


s: Will open wide the gates of her high palace hall.


s: The wakeful trump of doom must thunder through the deep,


s: While the red fire and smouldering clouds outbrake;


s: Shall from the surface to the centre shake;


s: The dreadful Judge in middle air shall spread his throne.


s: But now begins; for, from this happy day,


s: Swinges the scaly horror of his folded tail.


s: Runs through the archèd roof in words deceiving.


s: With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos leaving.


s: Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the prophetic cell.


s: A voice of weeping heard and loud lament;


s: The parting Genius is with sighing sent;


s: The nymphs in twilight shade of tangled thickets mourn.


s: The Lars and Lemures mourn with midnight plaint.


s: Affrights the Flamens at their service quaint;


s: While each peculiar power foregoes his wonted seat.


s: With that twice-battered God of Palestine;


s: Now sits not girt with tapers' holy shine;


s: In vain the Tyrian maids their wounded Thammuz mourn.


s: Isis, and Orus, and the dog Anubis, haste.


s: Trampling the unshowered grass with lowings loud;


s: Naught but profoundest hell can be his shroud;


s: The sable-stolèd sorcerers bear his worshipped ark.


s: The rays of Bethlehem blind his dusky eyne;


s: Can in his swaddling bands control the damnèd crew.


s: Each fettered ghost slips to his several grave;


s: Fly after the night-steeds, leaving their moon-loved maze.


s: Time is our tedious song should here have ending:


s: Her sleeping Lord with handmaid lamp attending;


s: Bright-harnessed angels sit in order serviceable.


s: "This," said Mr. Pickwick, looking round him, "this is, indeed,


s: I care not for Spring; on his fickle wing


s: He woos them amain with his treacherous rain,


s: An inconstant elf, he knows not himself,


s: He'll smile in your face, and, with wry grimace,


s: Let the summer sun to his bright home run,


s: When he's dimmed by a cloud I can laugh aloud,


s: For his darling child is the madness wild


s: And when love is too strong, it don't last long,


s: A mild harvest night, by the tranquil light


s: But my song I troll out, for Christmas stout,


s: A bumper I drain, and with might and main


s: Give three cheers for this Christmas old.


s: And we'll keep him up while there's bite or sup,


s: In his fine honest pride, he scorns to hide


s: They're no disgrace, for there's much the same trace


s: Then again I sing 'till the roof doth ring,


s: To the stout old wight, fair welcome to-night,


s: 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house


s: Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;


s: The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,


s: In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;


s: The children were nestled all snug in their beds,


s: While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads;


s: And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,


s: Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,--


s: When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,


s: I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.


s: Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.


s: The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow,


s: Gave a lustre of midday to objects below;


s: When what to my wondering eyes should appear,


s: But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,


s: With a little old driver, so lively and quick


s: More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,


s: And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:


s: "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!


s: To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!


s: Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!"


s: As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,


s: When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,


s: So, up to the house-top the coursers they flew,


s: With a sleigh full of toys,--and St. Nicholas too.


s: And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof


s: The prancing and pawing of each little hoof,


s: As I drew in my head and was turning around,


s: Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.


s: He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,


s: And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;


s: A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,


s: And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.


s: His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!


s: His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;


s: His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,


s: And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.


s: The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,


s: And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.


s: He had a broad face, and a little round belly


s: That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.


s: He was chubby and plump,--a right jolly old elf--


s: And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.


s: A wink of his eye and a twist of his head


s: Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.


s: He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,


s: And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,


s: And laying his finger aside of his nose,


s: And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.


s: He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,


s: And away they all flew like the down of a thistle;


s: But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight:


s: "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"


s: Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown;


s: We be good fellows all;--I drink to thee.


s: Here's to our horse, and to his right ear,


s: With my wassailing bowl I drink to thee.


s: Here's to our mare, and to her right eye,


s: God send our mistress a good Christmas pie;


s: A good Christmas pie as e'er I did see,--


s: Here's to our cow, and to her long tail,


s: Of a cup of good beer: I pray you draw near,


s: And our jolly wassail it's then you shall hear.


s: Be here any maids? I suppose here be some;


s: Sure they will not let young men stand on the cold stone!


s: Sing hey O, maids! come trole back the pin,


s: And the fairest maid in the house let us all in.


s: Come, butler, come, bring us a bowl of the best;


s: But if you do bring us a bowl of the small,


s: Then down fall butler, and bowl and all.


s: As though his flouds should quench his flames,


s: disagreeable ways of the fathers, and as we are both inclined to


s: If ye have power to touch our senses so;


s: And let the bass of heaven's deep organ blow;


s: Make up full concert to the angelic symphony.


s: Time will run back and fetch the age of gold;


s: And leprous sin will melt from earthly mold;


s: And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day.


s: Runs through the archéd roof in words deceiving;


s: With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos leaving,


s: Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the prophetic cell.


s: A voice of weeping heard and loud lament;


s: The parting genius is with sighing sent;


s: The nymphs in twilight shades of tangled thickets mourn."


s: That night might village partner choose;


s: The fire, with well-dried logs supplied,


s: Scrubbed till it shone, the day to grace,


s: Then the grim boar's head frowned on high,


s: Garnished with ribbons, blithely trowls.


s: 'Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale,


s: The poor man's heart through half the year.


s: And nothing was left but the prints of his shoes.


s: Make your whole year gladder, brighter!"


s: All Love's treasures with Him bringing!"_


s: The winds blew keen, the snow fell fast,


s: With right good-will all took their fill,


s: Quoth Charles, "Odd's fish! a noble dish!


s: These held the hot stuff from the jug, however, as well as golden


s: "A merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!"


s: "God bless us every one!" said Tiny Tim, the last of all.


s: "God bless us every one!" prayed Tiny Tim,


s: Crippled, and dwarfed of body, yet so tall


s: Of soul, we tiptoe earth to look on him,


s: He loved the loveless world, nor dreamed, indeed,


s: That it, at best, could give to him, the while,


s: And thus he prayed, "God bless us every one!"


s: Enfolding all the creeds within the span


s: Of his child-heart; and so, despising none,


s: Lifting a finger o'er the rhythmic swing


s: Of chiming harp and song, with eager eyes


s: The Anthem stilled--the angels leaning there


s: Of Christmas bursting flower-like with the prayer,


s: Then pealed the bells more loud and deep.


s: _The snow in the street and the wind on the door._


s: Through what green seas and great have ye past?


s: _Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._


s: To tell of great tidings strange and true,


s: What hap do you deem there should us betide!


s: There lay three shepherds tending their sheep.


s: To slay your sorrow, and heal your teen?"


s: His hair was white and his hood was wide.


s: Those twain knelt down to the Little One,


s: "And a marvellous song we straight did hear,


s: That slew our sorrow and healed our care."


s: About mistletoe? (Good Heavens! what an immense number of things


s: About _Julklaps_? (Who has exhausted that subject,


s: About the greatest plum-pudding for the greatest number?


s: Heigh ho! sing heigh ho! unto the green holly:


s: Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly.


s: Heigh ho! sing heigh ho! unto the green holly,


s: He comes in the night! He comes in the night!


s: While the little brown heads on the pillows so white


s: He cuts through the snow like a ship through the foam,


s: While the white flakes around him whirl;


s: Who tells him I know not, but he findeth the home


s: His sleigh it is long, and deep, and wide;


s: While dozens of drums hang over the side,


s: With the sticks sticking under the strings:


s: And yet not the sound of a drum is heard,


s: As he mounts to the chimney-top like a bird,


s: The little red stockings he silently fills,


s: The bright little sleds for the great snow hills


s: Then Santa Claus mounts to the roof like a bird,


s: Not the sound of a bugle or drum is heard


s: He rides to the East, and he rides to the West,


s: He eateth the crumbs of the Christmas feast


s: Then, children, be good to the little old man,


s: handkerchief over his face, leaving only the top of his skull-cap


s: Earlier in the evening, all had joined in the fun. In the general


s: Now the spirit of fun reigned supreme. The very flames danced and


s: Mevrouw commenced playing softly upon the piano; soon the voices


s: "Welcome, friend! St. Nicholas, welcome!


s: (Master Broom colored, and stared in great astonishment.)


s: "Lucretia and Hilda shall have a blessed sleep to-night. The


s: "With one and all I avow myself well content. Goodness, industry,


s: Every shoe was filled to overflowing; and beside each stood a


s: many-colored pile. The table was heavy with its load of


s: The holly! the holly! oh, twine it with bay--


s: For it helps to drive stern winter away,


s: It peeps through the trees with its berries of red,


s: When the flowers and fruits have long been dead,


s: Then sing to the holly, the Christmas holly,


s: While we laugh and carouse 'neath its glittering boughs,


s: The gale may whistle, the frost may come


s: In the revel and light of princely halls


s: And its shadow falls on the lowliest walls,


s: The ivy lives long, but its home must be


s: The laurel the warrior's brow may wreathe,


s: But is old, old, good old Christmas gone? Nothing but the hair on


s: The poor from the gates were not chidden,


s: Of all the old festivals, however, that of Christmas awakens the


s: ceremonials of Christmas have entirely disappeared, and, like the


s: "Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes


s: Wherein our Saviour's birth was celebrated,


s: This bird of dawning singeth all night long:


s: And then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad;


s: The nights are wholesome--then no planets strike,


s: No fairy takes, no witch hath power to charm,


s: So hallowed and so gracious is the time."


s: Would that our scrupulous sires had dared to leave


s: Less scanty measure of those graceful rites


s: Giving the memory help when she could weave


s: A crown for Hope!--I dread the boasted lights


s: That all too often are but fiery blights,


s: Killing the bud o'er which in vain we grieve.


s: Go, seek, when Christmas snows discomfort bring,


s: The counter Spirit found in some gay church


s: Green with fresh holly, every pew a perch


s: In which the linnet or the thrush might sing,


s: Merry and loud, and safe from prying search,


s: Strains offered only to the genial spring.


s: Their ovens they with baked meats choke,


s: Young men and maids, and girls and boys,


s: And dogs thence with whole shoulders run,


s: For crowdy-mutton's[A] come out of France;


s: And Jack shall pipe, and Jill shall dance,


s: Now far in the distance, now shining near,


s: Lighting the snows of the shivering year.


s: But o'er them all there's a glamour thrown.


s: What sweet spell are these elves weaving,


s: My own boyhood was spent in a delightful home on one of the most


s: In after years, when I became a parent, my beloved wife and I,


s: Christmas-tree shed down its bounties. Fifty years ago, when the


s: There are sounds in the sky when the year grows old,


s: When night and the moon are clear and cold,


s: Or wild is the blast and the bitter sleet


s: But blest on the frosty hills are the feet


s: Chiming sweet when the night wind swells,


s: Blest is the sound of the Christmas Bells!


s: Dear are the sounds of the Christmas chimes


s: And they welcome the dearest of festival times


s: And bright are the wreathed evergreens now


s: And hark! the first sweet note that tells,


s: Shall start from his drowsy watch afraid


s: And over the fields in their frosty rhyme


s: The wise men followed their guiding star


s: And the fig and the sycamore gathered green,


s: 'Twas the strange first Christmas the world had seen--


s: Had floated the sound of Christmas Bells.


s: The cedars of Lebanon shook in the blast


s: But nought o'er the wintry plain had passed


s: The oak and the olive and almond were still,


s: No wind of the winter-time roared from the hill


s: That is to come from the Christmas Bells!


s: The years that have fled like the leaves on the gale


s: Have widened the fame of the marvellous tale


s: They are ringing to-night through the Norway firs,


s: They swell the far hymns of the Lapps and Poles


s: Sweeter than tones of the ocean's shells


s: Mingle the chimes of the Christmas Bells!


s: The years come not back that have circled away


s: When He plucked the corn on the Sabbath day


s: But the bells shall join in a joyous chime


s: Then ring!--for earth's best promise dwells


s: Ring out at the meeting of night and morn


s: Lo, the stone from our faith's great sepulchre torn


s: And they come to us here in our low abode,


s: Come down and ascend by that heavenly road


s: Open our hearts with the Christmas Bells!


s: Help us to see that the glad heart prays


s: That there are in our own as in ancient days


s: And the glorified ones from that holy hill


s: The time draws near the birth of Christ;


s: Peace and good-will, good-will and peace,


s: The light that shone when hope was born!


s: The minstrels played their Christmas tune


s: The encircling laurels, thick with leaves,


s: That scraped the chords with strenuous hand!


s: For names once heard, and heard no more;


s: Clear away! There was nothing they wouldn't have cleared away, or


s: But if they had been thrice as many--Oh, four times as many--old


s: Sound over all waters, reach out from all lands,


s: The chorus of voices, the clasping of hands;


s: Sing hymns that were sung by the stars of the morn,


s: Sing songs of the angels when Jesus was born!


s: The dark night is ending and dawn has begun:


s: Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun,


s: All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as one!


s: Sing the bridal of nations! with chorals of love


s: Sing out the war-vulture and sing in the dove,


s: Till the hearts of the peoples keep time in accord


s: And the voice of the world is the voice of the Lord!


s: The dark night is ending and dawn has begun;


s: Blow, bugles of battle, the marches of peace;


s: East, west, north, and south let the long quarrel cease:


s: Sing the song of great joy that the angels began,


s: Sing of glory to God and of good-will to man!


s: recurrence of the season, as if the last assemblage had been but


s: stiff-jointed father of a family, whose "back hair" makes good


s: When mother-love makes all things bright,


s: When manhood's brows are bent in thought,


s: obliterated; the chimney-sweep forgets, in his delight when the


s: meanings suitable to themselves; for the pantomime is a symbol or


s: Harlequin has laid aside his wand, and divested himself of his


s: The earth has grown old with its burden of care,


s: And its soul full of music bursts forth on the air,


s: It is coming, Old Earth, it is coming to-night!


s: The feet of the Christ-child fall gentle and white,


s: And the voice of the Christ-child tells out with delight


s: On the sad and the lonely, the wretched and poor,


s: The voice of the Christ-child shall fall;


s: And to every blind wanderer open the door


s: Of hope that he dared not to dream of before,


s: The feet of the humblest may walk in the field


s: This, then, is the marvel to mortals revealed


s: When the silvery trumpets of Christmas have pealed,


s: And, when he's laughed and said his say,


s: On life's wide scene you, too, have parts


s: Good-night!--I'd say the griefs, the joys,


s: The strong may yield, the good may fall,


s: Why should your mother, Charles, not mine,


s: This crowns his feast with wine and wit,--


s: Who brought him to that mirth and state?


s: Come, brother, in that dust we'll kneel,


s: Dear hopes, dear friends, untimely killed;


s: Man is their high-priest, and should rise


s: Yet, if thou wilt, thou canst make clean.


s: foundations has vanished along with them--and a crowd of other


s: grandchildren's ears. Nor did these solemn eyes, bedimmed into a


s: All hail! rising beautiful and magnificent through the mists of


s: hush--methinks we hear faint and far-off sacred music--


s: "Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault,


s: The pealing anthem swells the note of praise!"


s: How steeped now in the stillness of moonlight are all those pale,


s: consolation, O Wordsworth! on thy sacred Bust.


s: records--blanks are there that ought to have been painted with


s: undisputed to reign over them his right divine.


s: circulates through the system like rosy wine.


s: And if you keep it for a day, why not always?


s: Plum-porridge, roast beef, and minced pies,


s: But this good draught which I have drunk


s: God bless them, that each Christmas they


s: Still through the cloven skies they come


s: Brave old times those were. In the first half of the seventeenth


s: century, we mean; before there was any such place as New York and


s: So there's a little fun going on after all.


s: And the star rains its fire while the Beautiful sing,


s: For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a king.


s: Ay! the star rains its fire and the Beautiful sing,


s: Every hearth is aflame, and the Beautiful sing


s: In the homes of the nations that Jesus is King.


s: Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,


s: And we greet in his cradle our Saviour and King!


s: Long ago angelic harpers sang the song we sing to-day,


s: And the drowsy folk of Bethlehem may have listened as they lay!


s: But eager shepherds left their flocks, and o'er the desert wild


s: The kingly sages journeyed to adore the Holy Child!


s: Of all the gifts of Christmas, are you fain to win the best?


s: Lo! the Christ-child still is waiting Himself to be your guest;


s: No lot so high or lowly but He will take His part,


s: If you do but bid Him welcome to a clean and tender heart.


s: GENTLENESS, with sweet-wine sauce of Laughter.


s: addition of roast goose and plum-pudding; it is not harmed by the


s: From the Christmas rose in her golden hair


s: To the high-heeled slippers of spangled suède


s: Who is it sits in that high-backed chair,


s: As she rustles the folds of her old brocade,--


s: Back to the darkness from which it strayed--


s: Who is it whirls in a ball-room's glare,


s: Her soft white hand on my shoulder laid,


s: Such shapes return with Christmas snow,--


s: We part, like guests who've joyed their fill;


s: And you'll hang it by mine, dear mother,


s: Nor sleepless nights--they're sure to come--


s: A tripper round the narrow world, a pilgrim of the main,


s: Expecting when her sails unfurled to start for home again.


s: You, when you hear the Northern blast, pile high a mightier fire,


s: I fancy I can picture you upon this Christmas night,


s: Just sitting as you used to do, the laughter at its height;


s: And then a sudden, silent pause intruding on your glee,


s: And kind eyes glistening because you chanced to think of me.


s: This morning when I woke and knew 'twas Christmas come again,


s: I almost fancied I could view white rime upon the pane,


s: And hear the ringing of the wheels upon the frosty ground,


s: And see the drip that downward steals in icy casket bound.


s: I daresay you'll be on the lake, or sliding on the snow,


s: And breathing on your hands to make the circulation flow,


s: Nestling your nose among the furs of which your boa's made,--


s: The Fahrenheit here registers a hundred in the shade.


s: It is not quite a Christmas here with this unclouded sky,


s: This pure transparent atmosphere, this sun mid-heaven-high;


s: To see the rose upon the bush, young leaves upon the trees,


s: And hear the forest's summer hush or the low hum of bees.


s: But cold winds bring not Christmastide, nor budding roses June,


s: And when it's night upon your side we're basking in the noon.


s: And so it's Christmas in the South as on the North-sea coasts,


s: Feel sure that we shall think of you, we who have wandered forth,


s: And now, good-night! and I shall dream that I am with you all,


s: Watching the ruddy embers gleam athwart the panelled hall;


s: Nor care I if I dream or not, though severed by the foam,


s: My heart is always in the spot which was my childhood's home.


s: Not grandsires, youths, or little folks,


s: "Why, we have not seen anything more. But it was incomparable."


s: "This one is famous; we only want this one!"


s: "This evening," said all, "this evening it will shine."


s: And the Tree stood all night quiet and thoughtful.


s: In the morning the servants and the chambermaid came in.


s: Christmas-eve, when he had been hung with sweetmeats and candles.


s: "What splendid stories you can tell!" said the little Mice.


s: "Who's Klumpey-Dumpey?" asked the little Mice.


s: "Do you only know one story?" asked the Rats.


s: "Then we'd rather not hear you," said the Rats.


s: "Now life is beginning again," thought the Tree.


s: "What's the matter, Granny?" said Roger.


s: "Hoo, hoo, why don't you lie still there?" said one.


s: "What is coming,--what, what?" said two voices together.


s: "Why not? What will they do to us?" chirped the young ones.


s: Roger knew the oft-repeated words,--they were those of the great


s: "I hate holidays," said Bachelor Bluff to me, with some little


s: "Very strange," I ventured to interpose.


s: Bachelor Bluff tell his adventure for himself:


s: "Not a bit, Mr. Bluff. I must have the whole story."


s: "Dear me, sir, no! Just as you say. Holidays are not in the least


s: embarrassed laugh. So did the others. The Old Man examined their


s: A silence seemed to indicate a brisk rubbing. Then Johnny:--


s: "Mar sez that everywhere else but yer everybody gives things to


s: Perhaps from some instinctive deference to the overhearing of his


s: For some moments the Old Man waited patiently. Then the unwonted


s: Ride, Richard; run, Jovita; linger, O day!


s: "Thar's suthin' in my pack yer for Johnny. Take it off. I can't."


s: He did so with trembling fingers. It contained only a few poor


s: All you that to feasting and mirth are inclined,


s: Come here is good news for to pleasure your mind,


s: Old Christmas is come for to keep open house,


s: He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse:


s: Then come, boys, and welcome for diet the chief,


s: Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.


s: And show that we ought to our neighbors be kind,


s: Inviting each other for pastime and sport,


s: And where we best fare, there we most do resort;


s: We fail not of victuals, and that of the chief,


s: All travellers, as they do pass on their way,


s: At gentlemen's halls are invited to stay,


s: Themselves to refresh, and their horses to rest,


s: Since that he must be Old Christmas's guest;


s: Nay, the poor shall not want, but have for relief,


s: Who said, "God's Son is born this night,"


s: Listen, lordings, unto me, a tale I will you tell;


s: Which, as on this night of glee, in David's town befell.


s: Joseph came from Nazareth with Mary, that sweet maid;


s: Weary were they nigh to death, and for a lodging prayed.


s: In the inn they found no room; a scanty bed they made;


s: Soon a babe, an angel pure, was in the manger laid.


s: Forth He came, as light through glass, He came to save us all.


s: In the stable, ox and ass before their Maker fall.


s: Shepherds lay afield that night to keep the silly sheep,


s: Purer than the drops of dew, and brighter than the morn!


s: Onward then the angels sped, the shepherds onward went,--


s: God was in His manger bed; in worship low they bent.


s: In the morning see ye mind, my masters one and all,


s: At the altar Him to find, who lay within the stall.


s: Pray whither sailed those ships all three


s: In the hush of a shivery Christmas-tide dawn


s: Three small frozen figures hung stiff and forlorn


s: Three dim ghostly forms in the glimmering gray


s: Locked up in dark cold storage quarters were they


s: Awaiting the coming of glad Christmas day


s: With chestnuts the turkey was garnished and stuffed


s: With onions and sage was the goose-carcass puffed,


s: While piggy was spiced, and his neck was beruffed


s: Three spirits regretful were hovering near


s: "Look!" gobbled the turkey's, "what tragedy's here!"


s: "For this did they tempt me with fattening food,


s: For this did I bring up my beautiful brood,


s: I always thought farmers uncommonly rude!"


s: The goose spirit trembled, then hissingly said


s: "Most men care for nothing except to be fed!"


s: "What horror is this, filled with onions and sage


s: To be served on a platter at my tender age!


s: 'Tis enough any well-disposed fowl to enrage!"


s: The phantom pig grunted, "Do please look at that!"


s: "Oh! why did I grow up so rosy and fat!"


s: "They put in my mouth a sweet, juicy corncob


s: Just when of sensations my palate they rob,


s: Do you wonder such sights make a spirit-pig sob!"


s: Conferring, the spirits resolved on a plan


s: By which to wreak vengeance on merciless man


s: "We'll each disagree with the human inside,


s: We'll cause indigestion and damage his pride,


s: And the pains of this Christmas we'll spread far and wide!"


s: Twas the night after Christmas in Santa-Claus land


s: And to rest from his labors St. Nicholas planned.


s: The reindeer were turned out to pasture and all


s: The ten thousand assistants discharged till the fall.


s: The furry great-coat was laid safely away


s: With the boots and the cap with its tassel so gay,


s: And toasting his toes by a merry wood fire,


s: What more could a weary old Santa desire?


s: So he puffed at his pipe and remarked to his wife,


s: "This amply makes up for my strenuous life!


s: From climbing down chimneys my legs fairly ache,


s: But it's well worth the while for the dear children's sake.


s: The darlings' delight in a gift-laden tree!"


s: Just then came a sound like a telephone bell--


s: Though why they should have such a thing I can't tell--


s: St. Nick gave a snort and exclaimed in a rage,


s: "Bad luck to inventions of this modern age!"


s: He grabbed the receiver--his face wore a frown


s: As he roared in the mouth-piece, "I will not come down


s: To exchange any toys like an up-to-date store,


s: Ring off, I'll not listen to anything more!"


s: Then he settled himself by the comforting blaze


s: When children were happy with simplest of toys:


s: A doll for the girls and a drum for the boys--


s: But again came that noisy disturber of peace


s: The telephone bell--would the sound never cease?


s: "Run and answer it, wife, all my patience has fled,


s: If they keep this thing up I shall wish I were dead!


s: I have worked night and day the best part of a year


s: To supply all the children, and what do I hear--


s: A boy who declares he received roller-skates


s: When he wanted a gun--and a cross girl who states


s: That she asked for a new Victor talking machine


s: And I brought her a sled, so she thinks I am 'mean!'"


s: Poor St. Nicholas looked just the picture of woe,


s: He needed some auto-suggestion, you know,


s: To make him think things were all coming out right,


s: For he didn't get one wink of slumber that night!


s: The telephone wire was kept sizzling hot


s: By children disgusted with presents they'd got,


s: And when the bright sun showed its face in the sky


s: The Santa-Claus family were ready to cry!


s: Just then something happened--a way of escape,


s: Though it came in the funniest possible shape--


s: Descended for breakfast--it seemed quite ideal!


s: For the end of it was, he invited his host


s: Out to try the balloon, of whose speed he could boast.


s: St. Nick, who was nothing if not a good sport,


s: Was delighted to go, and as quick as a thought


s: Climbed into the car for a flight in the air--


s: "No telephone bells can disturb me up there!


s: And, wife, if it suits me I'll count it no crime


s: To stay up till ready for next Christmas time!"


s: Thus saying--he sailed in the giant balloon,


s: And I fear that he will not return very soon.


s: Now, when you ask "Central" for Santa-Claus land


s: She'll say, "discontinued"--and you'll understand.


s: "Father, my Father, grant me to see him ere the dusk!"


s: "He is in Thine everlasting arms. But Thou, who knowest times and


s: They met on a low, rounded hill near the plain.


s: Then her voice sounded rich and happy and fresh, as it had always


s: "What is their aim in this?" the mother interrupted gently.


s: "Say on," she breathed. "What does the holy man do then?"


s: "Then," the inspired, boyish tones continued--"then he performs


s: From far out in the wilderness came a melancholy cry.


s: She drew in her breath sharply, and rose to her feet.


s: Then she rested both hands on his shoulders and spoke almost in a


s: He looked at her wonderingly and was silent.


s: She flung wide her arms as if to embrace the universe.


s: Now this Little Old Woman had not always lived in a Shoe. She and


s: monster fell heavily on the ground, dead.


s: embraced their father, they soon broke his chain and set him


s: We must now return to the Little Old Woman. After her sons had


s: Their uncle should possess their wealth:


s: That they should take the children twain,


s: "Stay here," said he, "I'll bring ye bread,


s: So runs the Nursery Rhyme. Little Bo-Peep was a very nice little


s: girl. Her cheeks had a bloom on them like a lovely peach, and her


s: But though Little Bo-Peep was as good as she was beautiful, she


s: Very soon the rest of the flock began to dance and caper too. And


s: When Little Bo-Peep awoke she found her sheep gone, and hardly


s: She wandered on till night-fall, and being faint with hunger, was


s: tails. The elves will play with them for this night, but in the


s: morning every sheep will have its tail again, except the stupid


s: After riding them about for some time, and having great fun with


s: them, the mad sport ceased, and each Elf restored the tail to his


s: There was once a family of Five Little Pigs, and Mrs. Pig, their


s: his vegetables, and very soon after Rusty came trotting into the


s: This little pig was a very good and careful fellow. He gave his


s: He brought everything she wanted, and lifted off the kettle from


s: The Little Pig who Cried "Wee, wee," all the Way Home.


s: This little pig went fishing. Now he had been told not to go into


s: farmer caught him, and as he laid his whip over his back for some


s: Old Mother Goose lived in a cottage with her son Jack. Jack was a


s: clothes-prop till he found he had lost himself. After he had made


s: When Jack was left alone, he made the best of his way to the


s: When Jack asked to see the Squire, they laughed at him, and made


s: "Sic as folk tell ower at a winter ingle"


s: Copyright, 1891, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.


s: Things went on from bad to worse, till, at the time of our story,


s: Bad as this disreputable old baron was, he had a respect for the


s: At first these excursions had been undertaken principally from


s: Of late, however, another cause had led her to take even stronger


s: The fact is, some months before the time of our story, Bertha had


s: confidentially, was the very thing he had been waiting for.


s: It so chanced that, on one particular afternoon, the maid, either


s: wouldn't tell the date if I knew,--but I don't.


s: Such was the state of things, however, on the particular 24th of


s: The shades of the winter afternoon had deepened into the evening


s: The fire, which had been piled up mountain-high earlier in the


s: wardrobe opposite, in which the baron's choicest vintages were


s: His head was encircled by a crown of holly and mistletoe.


s: "And pray what's your business here?" said the baron.


s: "Not anything you're likely to offer me!"


s: "Confound your impudence!" roared the baron, with a horribly


s: It did strike the baron as peculiar, that the bottle, when once


s: "I believe you, my b-o-o-oy!" The baron brought out this earnest


s: The baron had another glass, and another after that.


s: "Well, if you ask my advice," replied the goblin, "I should say,


s: "A fairy! me!" exclaimed the baron. "Get out. I'm too fat."


s: "I do, indeed," said the visitor. "You don't dislike it, do you?"


s: "Eh, what? You know that, too?" said the baron.


s: "Come along," said the goblin; "you won't wake her. Now, old


s: subject, but to-night something made him view things in quite a


s: The tone in which the goblin spoke was harsh and mocking.


s: The baron's head had sunk upon his bosom. Old recollections were


s: inarticulate in its unnatural hoarseness.


s: Strange to say, the baron, instead of feeling chilled when he had


s: daybreak, he tumbled out of bed and proceeded to dress.


s: Having completed his tour of charity, the baron returned home to


s: The gentle eyes filled with tears at the harshness of the reply;


s: "Why, pa, you don't mean--yes, I do really believe you do----"


s: The baron's eyes were winking nineteen to the dozen.


s: "Why, you dear, dear, dear old pa!" and at the imminent risk of


s: thoroughly enjoyed any other wine after it, and as he did not


s: "Ah," said mine host, as if preparing to swallow a savory morsel,


s: "Who, Señor Jose, lives in the castle now?"


s: The little inn was lively enough as we emerged from the bower and


s: "And do they still live in the town?" I asked.


s: As I had come a long journey to see this same Christmas play, my


s: "Hist! here's the Donna Isabella, señor! She looks like a saint


s: sanctuary arch, where he sang a carol to the shepherds,--


s: Up they got, with long cloaks and crooked staffs, murmuring their


s: willingness to go to the manger,--and at the same moment an angel


s: All these ceremonies had so claimed my attention that I had given


s: One of the acolytes reached his arms forth to take it from Donna


s: Now, Jose Rosado was too old a hand, too jolly a host, to be long


s: At last, as we neared La Fonda's vine-run walls, he said:


s: "Señor, do you think the miracles are all over nowadays?"


s: This is, in truth, no ordinary Christmas. It is the year of grace


s: These two Frenchmen are named Salvette and Bernadou. They are


s: "No; I like the 'Shepherds' best. We chant that always at home."


s: Round and round the circle they pass in opposite directions, and,


s: When Martin Ker, the husband of Dame Josserande, died, their son


s: permission to follow the studies in the convent school.


s: Most assuredly such precepts would not be well received by modern


s: "I do it," replied the boy, "because my dear mother is so poor."


s: He was then a youth of fine appearance, with a noble, frank face,


s: Pol, who was there, also laughed, and said, "I will assuredly be


s: "I need not go far to see Matheline's two pearls."


s: But Matheline wept bitterly, and cried,--


s: "Sylvestre, O Sylvestre Ker! my only friend, I cannot swim. Come


s: "Will you be my groomsman?" And Bihan replied,--


s: "You must wait, Sylvestre, my saviour, until your leg and eye are


s: "Where did all this happen," she asked, with tears.


s: "By all that is holy, he has also lost his mind!"


s: "He is lighting his furnaces," replied Josserande.


s: The wise man paused to reflect, and after a little while said,--


s: For it was near the glorious Feast of Christmas.


s: cider,--to make merry with the godmother.


s: Sylvestre Ker, whose eye shot forth lurid flame, replied,--


s: "Yes, it can be put off for seven years."


s: Matheline laughed no longer, and thought,--


s: "Seven years! Can I wait seven years?" Then she continued:


s: "My handsome friend, you have plenty of time."


s: Pol, on his side, said to Dame Josserande,--


s: As they were leaving, Pol whispered to Matheline,--


s: "Amuse the good woman well, for the fool must remain here."


s: "What a pity! What a great, great pity!"


s: "It is a pity to miss such a rare opportunity."


s: "Why, yes," replied Pol. "I always have an ear open to hear what


s: "My friend, the Star shines in the East."


s: "Sylvestre Ker will surely go with the shepherds."


s: "Not at all; Sylvestre Ker will not go."


s: "He will go, since he promised Dame Josserande."


s: "He will not go, since Matheline told him to stay."


s: From all the corners of the room came laughter; Matheline seemed


s: "They say Christmas, my friend--Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!"


s: "Not at all! They say, Gold, gold, gold!"


s: In vain did Sylvestre Ker sweep with his holly broom; between the


s: After the bells had finished their second peal, he said,--


s: "Sylvestre Ker will go! Sylvestre Ker will not go!"


s: Not a spirit from within flew out, while all the outside spirits


s: entered, muttering, chattering, laughing,--


s: "Yes, yes, yes, yes! No, no, no, no!" And I believe they fought.


s: "Be silent, for there is my tenant wide awake at his window."


s: "Sylvestre Ker, you have barely time; make haste!"


s: "Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!" repeated all the other voices.


s: But thousands of little voices stung his ears with the words,--


s: "Too late, too late, too late! It is too late!"


s: On the spot where had stood the furnace, of which not a vestige


s: "I have seen enough," said Sylvestre Ker.


s: "Then," replied Satan, "listen!" And immediately the sacred music


s: "How much will the fool give?" asked Matheline.


s: Sylvestre Ker felt his heart die away within him.


s: Meanwhile, Josserande prayed earnestly for Sylvestre Ker.


s: Sylvestre Ker held his breath to hear the better.


s: "As long as you please," answered Pol Bihan.


s: "I have heard enough," said Sylvestre Ker to Satan.


s: "Am I the master of all this?" asked Sylvestre Ker.


s: "I have chosen," said Sylvestre Ker. "I keep my soul."


s: "Dear godmother, I shall always be with you," said Matheline, "to


s: "It is the convent horn," said Matheline.


s: "And it sounds the wolf-alarm," added Pol.


s: oaten-porridge,--or rather a race-course, to exercise horses.


s: Then a strange thing happened. The cavalcade of monks was seen to


s: "Wolf, wicked wolf, I forbid you to touch God's servants!" But it


s: precious charge. The grand abbot called Josserande and said,--


s: And he resumed his course, followed by his escort.


s: Day dawned. A man slept in the bed of Sylvestre Ker, where widow


s: "Will you come to-night to see the wolf run around?"


s: The grand abbot received her, surrounded by great books and dusty


s: "Yes," answered Josserande; "and would to heaven my Sylvestre had


s: "If you should order me to do it, I would."


s: "Woman, I adore you in the most holy faith. Prepare your axe, and


s: By some means or other, the entire country around for five or six


s: "'Tis the widow of the armed keeper of the great door!"


s: "'Tis the mother of the wolf, Sylvestre Ker!"


s: But there were two or three good souls who said in low tones,--


s: "Poor widow! her heart must be full of sorrow."


s: "See, see!" said Pol Bihan; "he no longer limps." And Matheline,


s: Pol brandished his club, and continued,--


s: "What are we waiting for? Why not attack him?"


s: Dame Josserande heard her, and sighed,--


s: "Let us alone, godmother," boldly replied Matheline.


s: And Josserande, who was kneeling down, said imploringly,--


s: "The wolf! the wolf! Where has the wolf gone?"


s: "The pearls of a smile make a dainty morsel for a wolf to eat.


s: And the legend says that the tenant of Coat-Dor, Matheline's poor


s: "Death to the wolf! death to the wolf! death to the wolf!"


s: Josserande's heart sank within her, and she murmured,--


s: "My beloved one, my beloved one, whom I have borne in my arms and


s: "Strike!" cried the crowd; for what remained of Pol and Matheline


s: This is the legend that for many centuries has been related at


s: As to the authenticity of the story, I have already said that the


s: reason--though the children were performing that ancient and most


s: conquer, that he constantly tried to reconcile the father to his


s: The Captain alone was a match for his strong-willed son.


s: The Captain fingered his heavy moustache to hide a smile, but he


s: listened patiently to Sarah's complaints.


s: "Have you spoken to your mistress?" asked the Captain.


s: With this Sarah had to content herself, and she went back to the


s: nursery. Robert was nowhere to be seen, and made no reply to her


s: "You're under arrest," he shouted through the keyhole.


s: "I'll send a file of the guard to fetch you to the orderly-room


s: "Mayn't I go to bed, please?" whined poor Robert.


s: "Certainly not," said the Captain. "You're on duty."


s: To keep a secret was beyond Sarah's powers.


s: "Oh, Robin!" cried Nicholas, who had drawn near, his thick curls


s: "Oh, not yet, not yet!" cried Dora, clasping the doll to her, and


s: "Couldn't we make a coffin, and pretend the body was inside?" he


s: Nicholas had sore work to console his little sister, and Betsey's


s: "Then are you the mummers who come round at Christmas, and act in


s: "We like it well enough," St. George admitted.


s: Robin bought a copy of "The Peace Egg." He was resolved to have a


s: There were times, now, when the Captain almost regretted the old


s: "And now we'll go and act in the kitchen," said Nicholas.


s: The Valiant Slasher grinned with delight.


s: "Much," responded Nicholas, with intense feeling.


s: "They're drunk," said Nicholas; "and they're shouting at us."


s: "Who's there," she said, "at this time of night?"


s: "Yes, sir. Shall I take them to the kitchen sir----"


s: The old man was seated in a carved oak chair by the fire.


s: "I never said the dogs were to come in," he said.


s: "I am St. George, who from Old England sprung,


s: My famous name throughout the world hath rung."


s: And the performance went off quite as creditably as before.


s: Robin looked, and said, abruptly, "It's Dora."


s: "Which is Dora?" asked the old man, in a strange, sharp tone.


s: "Why, you're crying!" exclaimed the children, with one breath.


s: "How did you know it wasn't true?" the old man asked.


s: "Would you like it?" asked the old man of Dora.


s: But it was her father, with her child in his arms!


s: afterwards, but for the startling sight that met the gaze of the


s: "She's gone into his seat," cried Lucy Jane, in a shrill whisper.


s: Startled, and not a little alarmed, he checked his rapid walk and


s: Clearly and joyfully they pealed, as if their brazen tongues were


s: Mass had begun, and the great church was hardly a third full, for


s: ambition, he gained in their place the peace which passeth all


s: But scarcely were they settled than an earthquake rent the place,


s: astonished and in terror, and returned into the town.


s: And Hilarion wondered and said ten Paters and ten Aves.


s: "back-hair glass." He was a handsome boy, too; tall, and like


s: To which the dear boy replied as above, and concluded with the


s: "I have decided. You must amuse yourself some other way. And just


s: "It wasn't I," etc., with occasionally the feebler cry of a small


s: "And by the same rules, ten is better than one," said the friend.


s: "I know what would be very nice," insinuated one of the sisters.


s: "Well, what sort of a story is it to be?"


s: "I smell a moral," murmured the said Richard.


s: "Thank goodness we have not come to that!" said the incorrigible


s: "'Who are you?' said Melchior, feeling rather creepy.


s: "'Oh, to be sure, yes! In copper plate capitals.'


s: "'What's in copper-plate capitals?' inquired Time.


s: "'Not at all.' said Time; 'I have come on purpose to see you.'


s: "'Indeed,' said Melchior; 'I never heard of it.'


s: "'Must families be together?' inquired Melchior, dolefully.


s: "Poor Melchior! Surely there never was a clearer case of a young


s: gentleman's comfort destroyed solely by other people's perverse


s: determination to be happy in their own way instead of in his.


s: "'Now for it,' said Melchior; 'here goes one at any rate.'


s: "'What are you looking at?' said Melchior to the lame sister.


s: "'At a strange figure in the crowd,' she answered.


s: "'Who is it?' Melchior asked of the godfather.


s: "'A friend of mine,' Time answered. 'His name is Death.'


s: "'What are you doing?' shrieked Melchior. 'Drive on! drive on!'


s: "'To take her, and to leave the rest! Cruel! cruel!'


s: "'You never told her so before,' muttered young Hop-o'-my-thumb.


s: "He was a bronzed, hairy man, with one sleeve empty, and a breast


s: "'To enjoy his well-earned honors,' murmured the crowd.


s: "'What is that man talking about?' he asked of some one near him.


s: "'You had better hear for yourself,' said the man. 'Listen.'


s: "The philosopher turned his head coldly, and smiled. 'I thank the


s: "'There is a separation more bitter than death,' said Melchior.


s: "'But what a squeeze with all the brats!' said Godfather Time,


s: "'Oh, thank God, I have got you safe, my brother!'


s: "'Has powder come into fashion, brother?' he said. 'Your hair is


s: "'A figure in a cloak, gliding in and out----'


s: "Surely yes! Too surely the well-known figure came on; and the


s: "'True,' said Melchior. 'Where are the girls to-night?'


s: "'In the little room at the end of the long passage,' said Hop


s: "'Anything!' was the reply, in an enthusiastic whisper.


s: "'I couldn't stand another night of it.'


s: "Still, the young head was bent and the handsome face hidden; and


s: "Is that the end?" inquired the young lady on his knee, as the


s: "Two a day!" suggested Mrs. Grapewine, in her sharp manner.


s: "No, no, no! Mrs. G., you _are_ an experienced cateress, that I


s: "Trip across Sahara!" interpolated Mrs. Grapewine.


s: "What a woman you are. A Turkish bath! How, Mrs. Grapewine, can a


s: "Who?" said Mrs. Grapewine, somewhat loudly.


s: "I enclose a ticket for a Turkish bath----"


s: "Great heavens!" he cried, "what can this mean?"


s: He read the words again, and then read the coupon.


s: "Ask Major Fobbs to call at my table as soon as he can."


s: "Major," said the colonel, "will you please spell those words?"


s: "Lord a-mercy!" says Mrs. Gildenfenny, when she had read a little


s: "But your breakfast, ma'am," says Susan.


s: Mr. and Mrs. Totty were served with their invitation over a


s: Mr. Totty would paint the miseries of the epicure, and Mrs.


s: Totty those of the dyspeptic, in words of eloquence which made


s: "Why not?" exclaims Mrs. Totty, eagerly.


s: Dr. Tuggle and lady read the invitation together over their


s: "Bring him down, or I'll go up after him!"


s: Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by


s: in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of


s: HOLMAN & GRAY, Printers and Stereotypers.


s: found a prize, he put on the moccasins, but they bore him away to


s: During the Revolutionary war, a young American lady was murdered,


s: their victim presenting itself continually between them and the


s: The worn bird of Freedom had furled o'er our land


s: The shattered wings, pierced by the despot's rude hand,


s: And stout hearts were vowing, 'mid havoc and strife,


s: To Liberty, fortune, fame, honor, and life.


s: The red light of Morning had scarcely betrayed


s: The sweet summer blossoms that slept in the glade,


s: When a horseman rode forth from his camp in the wood,


s: And paused where a cottage in loneliness stood.


s: The ruthless marauder preceded him there,


s: For the green vines were torn from the trellis-work fair,


s: The flowers in the garden all hoof-trodden lay,


s: And the rafters were black with the smoke of the fray:


s: But the desolate building he heeded not long,


s: Was it echo, the wind, or the notes of a song?


s: One moment for doubt, and he stood by the side


s: Of the dark-eyed young maiden, his long-promised bride.


s: Few and short were their words, for the camp of the foe


s: Was but severed from them, by a stream's narrow flow,


s: And her fair cheek grew pale at the forest bird's start,


s: But he said, as he mounted his steed to depart,


s: "Nay, fear not, but trust to the chief for thy guide,


s: And the light of the morrow shall see thee my bride."


s: Why faltered the words ere the sentence was o'er?


s: Why trembled each heart like the surf on the shore?


s: In a marvellous legend of old it is said,


s: That the cross where the Holy One suffered and bled


s: Was built of the aspen, whose pale silver leaf,


s: Has ever more quivered with horror and grief;


s: And e'er since the hour, when thy pinion of light


s: Was sullied in Eden, and doomed, through a night


s: Of Sin and of Sorrow, to struggle above,


s: Hast thou been a trembler, O beautiful Love!


s: 'T was the deep hush of midnight; the stars from the sky


s: Looked down with the glance of a seraph's bright eye,


s: When it cleaveth in vision from Deity's shrine


s: Through infinite space and creation divine,


s: As the maiden came forth for her bridal arrayed,


s: And was led by the red men through forest and shade,


s: Till they paused where a fountain gushed clear in its play,


s: And the tall pines rose dark and sublime o'er their way.


s: Alas for the visions that, joyous and pure,


s: Wove a vista of light through the Future's obscure!


s: Contention waxed fierce 'neath the evergreen boughs,


s: And the braves of the chieftain were false to his vows;


s: In vain knelt the Pale-Face to merciless wrath,


s: The tomahawk gleamed on her desolate path,


s: One prayer for her lover, one look towards the sky,


s: And the dark hand of Death closed the love-speaking eye.


s: They covered with dry leaves the cold corpse and fair,


s: And bore the long tresses of soft, golden hair,


s: In silence and fear, through the dense forest wide,


s: To the home that the lover had made for his bride.


s: He knew by their waving those tresses of gold,


s: Now damp with the life-blood that darkened each fold,


s: And, mounting his steed, pausing never for breath


s: Sought the spot where the huge trees stood sentries of Death;


s: Tore wildly the leaves from the loved form away,


s: And kissed the pale lips of inanimate clay.


s: But hark! through the green wood what sounded afar,


s: 'T was the trumpet's loud peal--the alarum of war!


s: Again on his charger, through forest, o'er plain,


s: The soldier rode swift to his ranks 'mid the slain:


s: They faltered, they wavered, half turning to fly


s: As their leader dashed frantic and fearlessly by,


s: The damp turf grew crimson wherever he trod,


s: Where his sword was uplifted a soul went to God.


s: But that brave arm alone might not conquer in strife,


s: The madness of grief was conflicting with Life;


s: His steed fell beneath him, the death-shot whizzed by,


s: And he rushed on the swords of the victors to die.


s: 'Neath the murmuring pine trees they laid side by side,


s: The gallant young soldier, the fair, murdered bride:


s: And never again from that traitorous night,


s: The red man dared stand in the battle's fierce storm,


s: Rose up in the white maiden's beautiful form;


s: And when he would rush on the foe from his lair,


s: Those locks of pale gold floated past on the air.


s: The Indian name for the Falls of St. Anthony signifies "Laughing


s: Travellers in Mexico have found the form of a serpent invariably


s: pictured over the doorways of the Indian Temples, and on the


s: interior walls, the impression of a red hand.


s: I saw him in vision,--the last of that race


s: Who were destined to vanish before the Pale-face,


s: As the dews of the evening from mountain and dale,


s: When the thirsty young Morning withdraws her dark veil;


s: Alone with the Past and the Future's chill breath,


s: Like a soul that has entered the valley of Death.


s: He stood where of old from the Fane of the Sun,


s: While cycles unnumbered their centuries run,


s: Never quenched, never fading, and mocking at Time,


s: Blazed the fire sacerdotal far o'er the fair clime;


s: Where the temples o'ershadowed the Mexican plain,


s: And the hosts of the Aztec were conquered and slain;


s: Where the Red Hand still glows on pilaster and wall,


s: And the serpent keeps watch o'er the desolate hall.


s: He stood as an oak, on the bleak mountainside,


s: The lightning hath withered and scorched in its pride


s: Most stately in death, and refusing to bend


s: To the blast that ere long must its dry branches rend;


s: With coldness and courage confronting Life's care,


s: But the coldness, the courage, that's born of despair.


s: I marked him where, winding through harvest-crowned plain,


s: The "Father of Waters" sweeps on to the main,


s: Where the dark mounds in silence and loneliness stand,


s: And the wrecks of the Red-man are strewn o'er the land:


s: The forests were levelled that once were his home,


s: O'er the fields of his sires glittered steeple and dome;


s: The chieftain no longer in greenwood and glade


s: With trophies of fame wooed the dusky-haired maid,


s: And the voice of the hunter had died on the air


s: With the victor's defiance and captive's low prayer;


s: But the winds and the waves and the firmament's scroll,


s: With Divinity still were instinct to his soul;


s: At midnight the war-horse still cleaved the blue sky,


s: As it bore the departed to mansions on high;


s: Still dwelt in the rock and the shell and the tide


s: Still heard he the tread of the Deity nigh,


s: When the lightning's wild pinion gleamed bright on the eye,


s: And saw in the Northern-lights, flashing and red,


s: The shades of his fathers, the dance of the dead.


s: And scorning the works and abode of his foe,


s: The pilgrim raised far from that valley of woe


s: His dark, eagle gaze, to the sun-gilded west,


s: Where the fair "Land of Shadows" lay viewless and blest.


s: Again I beheld him where swift on its way


s: Leaped the cataract, foaming, with thunder and spray,


s: To the whirlpool below from the dark ledge on high,


s: While the mist from its waters commixed with the sky.


s: The dense earth thrilled deep to the voice of its roar,


s: And the "Thunder of Waters" shook forest and shore,


s: As he steered his frail bark to the horrible verge,


s: And, chanting his death-song, went down with the surge.


s: The historical incident related in this poem is recorded in


s: The town of Pleurs, situated among the Alps and containing about


s: two thousand five hundred inhabitants, was overwhelmed in 1618 by


s: and no trace of the village or any of its inhabitants could ever


s: Cold blasts through the valleys hurried,


s: Spring, with tranquil breath and fragrant,


s: Yet when starry worlds looked downwards,


s: The low waves curl, with sparkling foam,


s: The spireless church stands, plain and brown,


s: The stars that circle Night's dark brow,


s: Where low winds stir with fragrant breath


s: A light has ceased the seaman's path to cheer,


s: A star has left its ruby throne on high,


s: Thy sisters bright pursue their circling way,


s: But thou, lone wanderer! thou hast left our vault for aye.


s: And Death with sable pinion sweep thine air,


s: Blasting the beauty of thy fairest flowers,


s: Didst thou, as fable saith, wax faint and dim


s: With the first mortal breath between thy zone and Him?


s: Its passionate might and meek endurance strong,--


s: The love that mocks at Time and scorns the pall,


s: Live in thy soul, yet know no future's ray?


s: Then, mystic world! 't was well that thou shouldst pass away.


s: Removed thy radiance from our feeble sight.


s: Did HE, whose Spirit wills but to create,


s: From this low fraction of expiring time,


s: To realms where ages roll, as hours, in peace sublime?


s: With trembling pinion, bright and eager eye,


s: Striving to reach the still-receding shore


s: Immortal longings fill the fettered mind;


s: Unfathomed glory lies around it, veiled and shrined!


s: Shall pass like mist from o'er our straining sight,


s: And, as the sun-born insect, from its shroud


s: From phase to phase in Being's endless day,


s: Shall we behold thy light, and learn thy future way?


s: "And 'neath the proud and grand old trees


s: They bore him to his childhood's home,--


s: The sunbeams seemed to stay their flight,


s: A story is told in Spain, of a woman, who, by a sudden shock of


s: Thrilled the heart with dread and pain;--


s: this singular law not even kings were exempt.


s: Strong hearts had quailed in fear and shame,


s: In solemn state they swept the glowing strand,


s: To meet the conclave of the judgment band.


s: Where fierce revenge flashed wild and high,


s: Till thought grew wild and intellect grew dim,


s: The clanking fetters' mark on every limb.


s: The world might start, the sable plumes might wave,


s: But for that haughty king there was no grave.


s: Our acts are Judges, that must meet us there


s: With seraph smiles of light, or fiendish glare.


s: The ancient Highlanders believed the spirits of their departed


s: friends continually present, and that their imagined appearances


s: and voices communicated warnings of approaching death.


s: The flowers that I have trained will bloom,


s: Youth, Love, and Hope, with fadeless light,


s: There came a voice from the realm of thought,


s: Borne down on the rush of Time's fitful blast.


s: Wouldst thou fashion the song, O! Poet-heart,


s: Wouldst thou speed the knight to the battle-field,


s: On the world's highway, with Faith's broad shield,


s: For the noble soul, there is noble strife,


s: Through the wild turmoil and storm of Life,


s: Be the Poem in words, one of beauty and might,


s: Thought of their own youth and blessed her,


s: Nor yet--nor yet with length of years;--


s: She shrank not from the heartless throng,


s: And whispered, while her cheek grew pale,


s: Her eyes were filled with tears,--she had


s: Sounds forth again the solemn harp of Time;


s: Mass for the buried hours, a funeral chime


s: The sere leaves wail around thy passing bier,


s: Speed to thy dreamless rest, departing year!


s: Cross the wide threshold of the mighty Past,


s: Give back the treasures on thy bosom cast;


s: Give back the lily's bloom and violet's breath,


s: The summer leaves that bowed before the reaper Death.


s: Hopes that went out perchance when set thy sun,


s: Give back the wasted hours, half-uttered prayer,


s: The high resolves forgot that stained thine annals fair.


s: That woke within the poet's yearning breast,


s: Soothing its wild and passionate unrest;


s: Of youth's deep, fearless trust, that light the scroll


s: With an intenser glow,--records of heart and soul!


s: Give back the kindly words we loved so well,


s: The steps that never now around us tread,


s: Faces that haunt our sleep: give back, give back the dead.


s: Creation's boundless realms to mark thy prey?


s: Who mount where man has never thought to sway,


s: Oh! who shall tell what suns have set for aye,


s: What worlds gone out, what systems passed away?


s: And earth and sky before God's mandate flee,


s: But hark! with accent clear, and flute-like swell,


s: Floats up the New Year's voice,--Departed one, farewell!


s: As the bright flowers start from their wintry tomb,


s: I've sprung from the depths of futurity's gloom;


s: With the glory of Hope on my unshadowed brow,


s: But a fear at my heart, earth welcomes me now.


s: I come and bear with me a measureless flow,


s: The banquet's light jest and the penitent prayer,


s: The sweet laugh of gladness, the wail of despair,


s: The warm words of welcome, and broken farewell,


s: The strains of rich music, the funeral knell,


s: The fair bridal wreath, and the robe for the dead,


s: O how will they meet in the path I shall tread!


s: O how will they mingle where'er I pass by,


s: As sunshine and storm in the rainbow on high!


s: Yet start not, nor shrink from the race I must run;


s: I've peace and repose for the heart-stricken one,


s: And strength for the weary who fail in the strife,


s: And falter before the great warfare of Life.


s: I've love for the friendless; a morrow of light


s: For him who is wrapped in adversity's night;


s: With trust for the doubting, a field for the soul,


s: That has dared from its loftier purpose to stroll,


s: To haste to the conflict, and blot out the shame


s: With the deeds of repentance, and resolute aim


s: To seek, 'mid the struggle with tempters and sin,


s: The high meed of virtue triumphant to win.


s: Unsullied and pure is the future's broad scroll,


s: And as leaf after leaf from its folds shall unroll,


s: The warp and the woof they are woven by me,


s: But the shadows and coloring rest, mortal, with thee.


s: 'T is thine to cast over those leaves as they bloom,


s: The sunlight of morning or hues of the tomb;


s: Though moments of sorrow to all must be given,


s: There 's a vista of light that leads up to heaven;


s: Nor utterly starless the path thou hast trod,


s: Till thy heart prove a traitor to thee or to God.


s: Had checked the voice of gladsome mirth,


s: The sunset on Judah's high places grew pale,


s: And purple tints shadowed the gorge and the vale,


s: While Venus in beauty, with dilating eye,


s: Out-riding the star-host, looked down from the sky


s: On the city that struggled with foemen below,--


s: Jerusalem, peerless in grandeur and woe!


s: O'er the fast crumbling walls thronged the cohorts of Rome,


s: Their batteries thundered on palace and dome,


s: And the children of Israel in voiceless despair


s: At the foot of the Temple had breathed a last prayer;


s: For their armies were spent in the unequal strife,


s: And Famine was maddening the pulses of life,


s: The pestilence lurked in the zephyr's soft breath,


s: And the gall-drops were poured from the drawn sword of Death.


s: The Night with starred garments moved noiseless on high,


s: When they felt a hot blast on the cool air draw nigh;--


s: Did pinions infernal rejoicing sweep by?


s: They beheld a wild flash o'er the firmament shine;--


s: Came there aid from above,--a legation divine?


s: There is fire on the mount, there is smoke in the air;


s: The red flames shoot upward with bright, spectral glare;


s: Men of Jacob, draw nigh, but like Moses unshod,


s: 'T is the shrine of Jehovah, the temple of God.


s: The cherubim drooped and the pomegranates lay


s: In the dust with the lamps that had glimmered all day;


s: The censers and altar the ashes must claim,


s: Though their unalloyed gold be the gold of Parvaim.


s: Fierce raged the consumer insatiate and strong,


s: And cursed was its light by that soul-stricken throng,


s: Who beheld their destruction and anguish and shame,


s: Engraved by the lurid and forked tongues of flame,


s: Distinct as the law they had dared to defy,


s: Was traced through the cloud where the Deity shone


s: By the finger of God on the tablets of stone;


s: They beheld e'en the Holy of Holies consume;


s: Then with frenzied bemoaning lamented their doom.


s: The cedars of Lebanon thrilled with the wail


s: That swept like a torrent Jehoshaphat's vale;


s: The voice of lamenting for Judah's lost star;


s: The Kedron replied from its sanctified glade;


s: The olive-leaves shook in Gethsemane's shade;


s: And a strange world came forth from the regions of space


s: And hung like a sword o'er the grave of that race;


s: While the watchman, who terror-struck gazed on the sight,


s: Not a signal gave forth from his fire-girded height,


s: But breathlessly muttered, with cold lips and pale,


s: "'T is the tenth day of Lous,--Jerusalem, wail!"


s: Might the sunbeam in splendor flash back from her fane.


s: No prophet stood forth, and, with prescience sublime,


s: Told of light in the Future unkindled by Time:


s: No poet-king sounded his lyre o'er her tomb;


s: No ruler went up 'mid the cloud's awful gloom


s: And fervently plead with Jehovah's fierce ire;


s: No God on Mount Sinai descended in fire;


s: The eyes of the daughters of Rachel were dim;


s: The priesthood were anguished by visions of HIM


s: Who, patient and God-like, climbed Calvary's side;


s: The ancient men sorrowed by Siloah's tide,


s: And Israel to shame and oppression were sold,


s: And the hearts of the captives grew hollow and dry


s: As the fruit that o'er Sodom hangs fair to the eye.


s: I heard the strokes of the midnight bell


s: Laden with fragrance and warmth and blight.


s: That cradled beside me the stranger lay,


s: Though I had not dared o'er her face to pray.


s: But roused by the voice of the midnight chime,


s: And soft, sweet eyes were upraised to mine,


s: Or the chastened light of the moonbeam's ray.


s: The other as falling snow-flakes fair;--


s: The one oppressed with contrition's tear,


s: The other with naught but the angel's face


s: The other environed with saintly ease;--


s: The one acquainted with Death and change,


s: Dear Lord! that ever the blight should fall,


s: Whose young spirit's sweet Spring budding


s: Withered, scorched, the spring-flower lies,


s: And she, like all, must strive with care,


s: The stars looked forth in the shadowy west,


s: And asked of the wonderful points of light


s: She told me of numberless worlds, that rolled


s: She told of a faith that she called divine,


s: And were sometimes sent on a mission high


s: And with childish sense, I forgot the worlds,


s: And when she knelt with her babes in prayer,--


s: Years passed, and in earliest youth I knelt


s: The lips were mute that had spoken love,


s: When my soul is sick with a feverish thirst


s: As in days of yore, when a careless child,


s: What Sovereign guard from Heaven," I asked,


s: And, while his servant's heart grew faint


s: In Syria, where the atmosphere is less humid than ours, the whole


s: MADELINE.--_A Legend of the Mohawk._--The events narrated in


s: And the gall-drops were poured from the drawn-sword of Death.


s: The cherubim drooped and the pomegranates lay


s: In the dust with the lamps that had glimmered all day;


s: The censers, and altars, the ashes must claim,


s: Though their unalloyed gold be the gold of Parvaim.


s: On pillar, and pommel, and chapiter high.


s: The Cedars of Lebanon thrilled with the wail,


s: That swept, like a torrent, Jehoshaphat's vale.


s: And a strange world came forth from the regions of space


s: And hung like a sword o'er the grave of that race.


s: 'T is the tenth day of Lous--Jerusalem wail!


s: The same month and day in which the Temple was burned by the


s: Such is the title of a little 'book of verses' that at the time


s: found favour in the eyes of a few discerning critics, and then,


s: apparently, was forgotten. As originally issued its dark brown


s: paper wrapper was adorned with a simple but effective woodcut


s: design by Mr. Selwyn Image, which we have reproduced on our first


s: signed review in the pages of the _Academy_ for August 9, 1890,


s: by the late John Addington Symonds. As a preface nothing could be


s: Guarini are also singularly appropriate. For these songs of Youth


s: with their haunting sense of vanished love, of


s: This little book was written by four friends, three of them


s: under-graduates at Oxford, and all of them penetrated with the


s: spirit of the higher culture of our time. The poems, it is clear,


s: diligently polished. There is not one which is not remarkable for


s: Whether these qualities promise well for future achievement and


s: development is a question open to debate. But there can be no


s: doubt that in _Primavera_ we possess another of those tiny


s: verse-books like _Ionica_, or Mr. Percy Pinkerton's _Galeazzo_,


s: which will not lose in freshness and in perfume as the years go


s: The poems have the distinction of making one wish to be


s: acquainted with their authors. Though they differ a good deal in


s: mental tone, perhaps also somewhat in literary merit, they


s: possess marked common characteristics: a restrained refinement, a


s: Anglican æsthetic school. We find no humour, no _Sturm und


s: Drang_, no inequalities and incoherences of passion. Even where


s: it is obvious that the emotion has been intense, possibly of a


s: rare and peculiar strain, as in Mr. Binyon's "Testamentum Amoris"


s: no violence of impulse. A tender tone of regret, rather than of


s: acute grief, steeps these stanzas (to quote one instance)


s: addressed to a friend removed into the spiritual world by death.


s: "And yet, at times, thou still shalt feel


s: "And thou shalt shiver, while the hymns,


s: It would be invidious to institute critical comparisons between


s: the styles of these four friends and their respective merits. It


s: the subtleties of English prosody and diction, combined with just


s: felicitous simplicity. Notice the line which I have italicised in


s: "In the deep West the heavens grow heavenlier,


s: _The glorious stars remember to appear;_


s: "Forget the shining of the stars, forget


s: There is but one piece of blank verse in the book. This prologue


s: to "Orestes," by Mr. Stephen Phillips, has strength, is firm in


s: these youthful compositions makes itself felt here in its proper


s: the rapture of youth than on its sadness--the melancholy of


s: "O bright new-comer, filled with thoughts of joy,


s: Joy to be thine amid these pleasant plains,


s: Know'st thou not, child, what surely coming pains


s: Await thee, for that eager heart's annoy?