One crept to the couch where an invalid lay, And brought him a dream of the sweet summer day, Its bird-song and beauty and bloom; Till pain was forgotten and weary unrest, And in fancy he roamed through the scenes he loved best, Far away from the dim, darkened room. One stole to the heart of a flower that was sad, And loved and caressed her until she was glad, And lifted her white face again; For love brings content to the lowliest lot, And finds something sweet in the dreariest spot, And lightens all labor and pain. And one, where a little blind girl sat alone, Not sharing the mirth of her playfellows, shone On hands that were folded and pale, And kissed the poor eyes that had never known sight, That never would gaze on the beautiful light Till angels had lifted the veil. At last, when the shadows of evening were falling, And the sun, their great father, his children was calling, Four sunbeams sped into the west. All said: "We have found that in seeking the pleasure Of others, we fill to the full our own measure," Then softly they sank to their rest. --St. Nicholas, December, 1879. THE SUN. Somewhere it is always light; For when 'tis morning here, In some far distant land 'tis night, And the bright moon shines there. When you've retired and gone to sleep, They are just rising there; And morning o'er the hill doth creep When it is evening here. And other distant lands there be Where it is always night; For weeks the sun they never see, The stars alone give light. But though 'tis dark both night or day It is as wondrous quite That when the night has passed away, The sun for weeks gives light. Yes, while you sleep the sun shines bright, The sky is blue and clear; For weeks and weeks there is no night But always daylight there. THE FAMILY OF GIANT SUN. The next morning, when Mary came out in the garden to sit with Harry, she was surprised to see an audience of three instead of one: Harry, whose face beamed with delight when he saw her; Nellie, who was seated in a tiny rocking chair beside him, and Nellie's doll. "You see, dollie wants to know all about Giant Sun, too," Nellie gravely informed Mary. "I never could remember all, and she might remember what I forget. Besides, she must learn some day. That is what mamma said about me. I heard her," Nellie continued wisely, as she looked up at Mary. "Do you mind telling me about the sky-people too?" "Mind? Why you little bit of a doll baby," laughed Mary, as she picked her up, doll and all, and hugged her, "if you and dollie promise not to go to sleep, you can stay here as long as you want to. But does Aunt Agnes know you are here, Nellie; or have you run away from home?"