"Hold on! come back! this never will do! Just see what a botch you've made!" Before He had time to turn, with a clang and a roar, And a glare of its one great Cyclops eye, The Lightning Express went whizzing by [Illustration: 0024] With a rushing of steam, And a howl and a scream, That waked me from my curious dream; Which the Doctor avers (and he makes it plain) Must all have passed through my busy brain With the passing of the midnight train! OH, HAPPY NIGHT! By M. E. B. O happy night! that brings the morn To dawn above the Lord new born, And bids the angels sing again Their message to the sons of men-- We hail thee! we hail thee! O happy manger! that hath known This precious burden as thine own, Beyond all gifts the world doth hold, Of pomp and pow'r and gems and gold We hail thee! we hail thee! O happy star! whose radiance sweet Did lead the wise men's eager feet To seek the way, unknown, untried, That led them to the manger's side-- We hail thee! we hail thee! O happy day! that gave to men The Babe Divine of Bethlehem, The King of Kings, the Undefiled, In semblance of a little child-- We hail thee! we hail thee! O happy Babe! whose wondrous eyes Still hold the light of Paradise, Look down in blessing from above While Prince of Peace, and Lord of Love, We hail thee! we hail thee! WILLIE WEE. By Mrs. A. M. Diaz. |TWO lads were conversing as happy as kings, Of the coming of Christmas and all that it brings, Of the Christmas-tree and its many delights, Of the city shop-windows and other fine sights, When out spake wee Will, sometimes called "Willie wee," Though often "sweet William," or "little Willee," --Four years and a half or three-quarters was he-- "Say! What kind of a tree is a Chrissermus-tree?" And the while they discoursed, as his wonder grew', With questions like these he followed them through: "Does it have big branches that spread all around? Do its roots stay deep down in the dark ground? Does it grow, grow, grow, way up very high? If you climb to the top will your head bump the sky? Do any plums grow on it, or apples, or cherries? Or any good nuts, or pretty red berries? Does it bloom out all over with flowers white as snow, As that tree does down there in our garden below? Do robins and king-birds build nests in that tree? And other birdies too?" asked little Willee. [Illustration: 0027] "Yes," answered Ned, wise, school-boy Ned: "A Christmas-tree, young curly-head, Has branches, sure, but has no roots, And on its branches grow no fruits;