The woman was old, ragged and gray, And bent with the chill of the winter's day; The street was wet with the winter's snow, And the woman's feet were aged and slow. She stood at the crossing and waited long, Alone, uncared for, amid a throng Of human beings who passed her by; None heeded the glance of her anxious eye. Down the street with laughter and shout, Glad in the freedom of school let out, Came the boys like a flock of sheep, Hailing the snow, piled white and deep. Past the woman so old and gray, Hastened the children on their way, Nor offered a helping hand to her, So meek, so timid, afraid to stir, Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet Should crowd her down on the slippery street. At last came one of the merry troop, The gayest laddie of all the group. He paused beside her and whispered low, "I'll help you across if you wish to go." Her aged hand on his strong young arm She placed, and without hurt or harm, He guided the trembling feet along, Proud that his own were firm and strong. Then back again to his friends he went, His young heart happy and well content. "She is somebody's mother, boys, you know, For she is old, and poor, and slow; And I hope some fellow will lend a hand To help my mother, you understand, If she's old, and poor, and gray, When her own dear boy is far away." And "somebody's mother" bowed low her head In her home that night, and the prayer she said Was: "God be kind to the noble boy Who is somebody's son, and pride, and joy." [Illustration] [Illustration] DOT LAMBS WHAT MARY HAF GOT. [Illustration] Mary haf got a leetle lambs already; Dose vool was vite like shnow; Und efery times dot Mary did vend oud, Dot lambs vent also out, mit Mary. Dot lambs did follow Mary von day of der school-house, Vich was obbosition to der rules of der school-master; Also, vich it did cause dose schilden to schmile out loud, Ven dey did saw dose lambs on der insides of der school-house. Und so dot school-master dit kick der lamb gwick oud; Likewise dot lambs dit loaf around on der outside; Und did shov der flies mit his tail off patiently aboud,-- Until Mary did come also from dot school-house oud. Und den dot lambs did run away gwick to Mary, Und dit make his het gwick on Mary's arms, Like he would said, "I don't was schared, Mary would kept me from droubles enahow." "Vot vos der reason aboud it, of dot lambs und Mary?" Dose schildren did ask it dot school-master; "Vell, don'd you know it, dot Mary lofe dose lambs, already," Dot school-master did said. [Illustration] Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small, Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all. --LONGFELLOW. [Illustration] BOB CRATCHIT'S CHRISTMAS. CHARLES DICKENS.