That’s all about Flynn of Virginia. That lets me out. Here in the damp,-- Out of the sun,-- That ’ar derned lamp Makes my eyes run. Well, there,--I’m done! But, sir, when you’ll Hear the next fool Asking of Flynn,-- Flynn of Virginia,-- Just you chip in, Say you knew Flynn; Say that you’ve been ’yar. BRET HARTE. (By special permission of Houghton, Mifflin and Company.) 57 THE BALLAD OF CALNAN’S CHRISTMAS When you hear the fire-gongs beat fierce along the startled street, See the great-limbed horses bound, and the gleaming engine sway, And the driver in his place, with his fixed, heroic face, Say a prayer for Calnan’s sake--he that died on Christmas day! Cling! Cling! Each to his station! Clang! Clang! Quick to clear the way! (Christ keep the soldiers of salvation, Fighting nameless battles in the war of every day!) In the morning, blue and mild, of the Mother and the Child, While the blessed bells were calling, thrilled the summons through the wire; In the morning, blue and mild, for a woman and a child Died a man of gentle will, plunging on to fight the fire. Ring, swing, bells in the steeple! Ring the Child and ring the Star, as sweetly as ye may! Ring, swing, bells, to tell the people God’s good will to earthly men, the men of every day! “Thirty-four” swung out agleam, with her mighty, bounding team; Horses’ honor pricked them on, and they leaped as at a goad; Jimmy Calnan in his place, with his clean-cut Irish face, Iron hands upon the reins, eyes a-strain upon the road. Clang! Clang! Quick to clear the way! (Sweetly rang, above the clang, the bells of Christmas day.) Tearing, plunging through the din, scarce a man could hold them in; None on earth could pull them short: Mary Mother, guide from harm Yonder woman straight ahead, stony still with sudden dread, And the little woman-child, with her waxen child in arm! Oh, God’s calls, how swift they are! Oh, the Cross that hides the Star! Oh, the fire-gong beating fierce through the bells of Christmas day! Just a second there to choose, and a life to keep or lose-- To the curb he swung the horses, and he flung his life away! Ring, swing, bells in the steeple! Ring the Star and ring the Cross, for Star and Cross are one! Ring, swing, bells, to tell the people God is pleased with manly men, and the deeds that they have done! HELEN GRAY CONE. (By special permission of the author, and of The Century Company.) 58 HOW HE SAVED ST. MICHAEL’S