Across the waste, across the snow, O the pity! O the pity! Past sentinel of friend and foe O the pity! O the pity! Comes the Christ-Child clad in white Through the storm-clouds of the night. Bearing in His lily hands Gift of peace to warring lands, O the pity! O the pity! "_Adeste fideles!_" sing the choirs O the pity! O the pity! Lurid flame the battle fires O the pity! O the pity! Shepherds hear the heavenly song, Mid the strife and piteous wrong; Peace on earth but not of men, Peace that knows not crime nor sin. O the pity! O the pity! Lay your sceptres at His feet, O the pity! O the pity! Christ, the Babe of Bethlehem, greet, O the pity! O the pity! Legions stretched in battle line, Saw the star and knew the sign, Yet forgot that Christ was born Prince of Peace, on Christmas morn, O the pity! O the pity! Christmas, 1914. For Mrs. George McIntyre. GOD'S NEW YEAR'S GIFT What shall the coming year bring forth, O Lord, who rulest the land? For the navies of the sea and air Are but stubble in Thy hand. The battalions in the field go forth; They arm in mighty line; Do they kneel to know Thy holy will? Have they asked from Thee a sign? The kings invoke Thy holy name, In their carnage and their strife; But the purple gift it was Thine to give Recks not of pity nor life: For they're drunk with the wine of lustful power, And seared with the sins of earth; And their prayers and preachments now mock Thy name, And make of Thy laws but mirth. January 1, 1916. _For Duncan Campbell Scott._ TROUBLE IN THE LOUVRE When the German troops were marching with the Uhlans far ahead, The objective point being Paris, as the Berlin wireless said, There was trouble in the Louvre, 'mong the paintings on the walls, There were shoutings 'cross the centuries, there were loud artistic calls; "Mona Lisa" ceased her smiling and "The Banker and His Wife" Turned to Millet's "Women Gleaning"--begged protection for their life; While "The Gypsy Girl" of Franz Hals, fearful of impending fate, Roused "The Shepherds in Arcadia" with "The Hun is at the Gate!" Then the panic spread on all sides till the battle of the Marne Solved all danger of the looting, removed all need to warn; Straight "The Lace Maker" from Flemish Bruges in the joyous choral led Smiled at "Charles First of England" who had lost his crown and head; For fear had left the Louvre when the Teutons turned in flight, So they scanned the sky no longer for dread Zeppelins in the night. And the paintings born of centuries touched by genius into life Still are hanging in the Louvre 'mid war's clash and clang and strife. _For Edgar Guest._ "BOBS" OF KANDAHAR