You are sad, dear mother, Tears are in your eye; You're not glad to see it; Mother, tell me why? I remember.--Last year, Where our Willie lies, Grew the earliest violet, Blue as were his eyes. Then you told me, mother, That the flowers would fade, And their withered blossoms On the earth be laid. But you said, as springtime Would their buds restore, Willie would in heaven Be forevermore. Weep no more, dear mother! Violets are in bloom; And your darling Willie Lives beyond the tomb. [Illustration] CHRISTMAS. [Illustration: Letter L.] "Little children, when rejoicing In the merry Christmas morn, 'Mid your sports remember ever 'Tis the day that Christ was born. "When on earth, the blessed Saviour Said, 'Let children come to me,' And the little ones he folded In his arms, how tenderly!" "But the Saviour is in heaven, And we cannot see him now; We cannot receive his blessing, In his presence cannot bow." "Listen. In the holy Bible, Jesus Christ tells every child That the way to gain his blessing Is by being good and mild." "Here on earth you may not see him; But when this short life is done, You shall live with him forever Where there is no setting sun." "So remember, Christmas morning, That on earth the Saviour came; And that still he guards and blesses Every child who loves his name." [Illustration] NEW YEAR. [Illustration: Letter I.] If I resolve, with the new year, A better child to be, 'Twill do no good at all, I fear, But rather harm to me, Unless I try, with every day, No angry word to speak; Unless, each morn, to God I pray To keep me mild and meek. Then let me try with all my might, And may God help me too, Always to choose the way that's right, Whatever act I do. EVENING HYMN. [Illustration: Letter G.] God has kept me, dearest mother. Kindly, safely, through the day: Let me thank Him for His goodness, Ere the twilight fades away. For my home and friends I thank Him, For my father, mother dear; For the hills, the trees, the flowers, And the sky so bright and clear. If I have been kind and gentle, If I've spoken what was true, Or if I've been cross and selfish, He has seen and known it, too. Those I love He will watch over, Though they may be far away, For he loves good little children, And will hear the words they say. [Illustration] SOAP-BUBBLES. [Illustration: Letter O.] "O George! how large your bubble is! Its colors, too, how bright! Just like the rainbow that we saw On high, the other night. "Now throw it off, and let it float Like fairies in the air! It's broken, Georgie; never mind, But blow another there." Their mother, just within the door, Smiled at their childish play,-- A smile, but yet a thoughtful one, That seemed these words to say: "My little Georgie, bubbles burst, And are but empty air; I would that you might love the things That last forever fair.