WINTER FIRE-FLIES. BY MRS. W. N. CLARKE. One by one appearing In their lower sky, Come a host uncounted Like the stars on high, Flashing lights uncertain, Ever changing place,-- Tricksy constellations That we cannot trace! Throbbing through the elm-tree Little heart of fire!-- One in lonely longing Rises ever higher; Flits across the darkness, Like a shooting star, While the changeless heavens Calmly shine afar. When the flames are lighting All the chimney dark, When the green wood hisses, And the birchen bark In the blaze doth redden, Glow and snap and curl, Fire-flies, freed from prison, Merrily dance and whirl. Children on the hearth-stone, Peering up the flue, See a mimic welkin, Lights that twinkle through,-- Sparks that flash and flicker, Little short-lived stars, On the sooty darkness Glowing red as Mars! Eager eyes a-watching Fain would have them pause. Catch these fire-flies--can you?-- In a web of gauze! Ever upward flying Toward the chimney's crown-- Up to meet the snow-flakes As they flutter down! THE ARMS OF GREAT BRITAIN. BY SUSAN ARCHER WEISS. My young readers have doubtless often observed upon familiar objects, such as books, china and steelware, etc., the device of a lion and a horse (sometimes represented as a unicorn) supporting between them a shield, surmounted by a crown. On the shield are certain divisions called "quarterings," in one of which you will observe two lions and a horse. Attached to the whole is the motto, _Dieu et mon droit_,--French words, whose meaning is, "God and my right." If you inquire, you will be told that this device is the "coat-of-arms" of Great Britain,--as the eagle, shield and olive branch is that of the United States,--and that all articles thus marked are of British manufacture. In old times the national symbol of England was the rose, of Scotland the thistle, of Ireland the shamrock, or clover. When England claimed Ireland and Scotland, these three were united on the British royal shield, as we find them in the time of Queen Elizabeth. On a victory over France, the symbol of France, a unicorn, was also added, the unicorn wearing a chain, to denote the subjection of France to England. This explains the nursery rhyme which you have no doubt often heard-- "The lion and the unicorn fighting for the crown; The lion whipped the unicorn all around the town."