It shall flash through coming ages, It shall light the distant years; And eyes now dim with sorrow Shall be brighter through their tears. It shall flush the mountain ranges, And the valleys shall grow bright; It shall bathe the hills in radiance, And crown their brows with light. It shall flood with golden splendor All the huts of Caroline; And the sun-kissed brow of labor With lustre new shall shine. It shall gild the gloomy prison, Darkened by the nation's crime, Where the dumb and patient millions Wait the better-coming time. By the light that gilds their prison They shall see its mouldering key; And the bolts and bars shall vibrate With the triumphs of the free. Though the morning seemed to linger O'er the hill-tops far away, Now the shadows bear the promise Of the quickly coming day. Soon the mists and murky shadows Shall be fringed with crimson light, And the glorious dawn of freedom Break refulgent on the sight. NEW-YEAR'S DAY ON THE ISLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1863. BY CHARLOTTE L. FORTEN. A few days before Christmas we were delighted at receiving a beautiful Christmas Hymn from John G. Whittier, written especially for our children. They learned it very easily, and enjoyed singing it. We showed them the writer's picture, and told them he was a very good friend of theirs, who felt the deepest interest in them, and had written this Hymn expressly for them to sing. This made them very proud and happy. Early Christmas morning we were wakened by the people knocking at the doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" After distributing some little presents among them, we went to the church, which had been decorated with holly, pine, cassena, mistletoe, and the hanging moss, and had a very Christmas-like look. The children of our school assembled there, and we gave them the nice comfortable clothing and the picture-books which had been kindly sent by some Philadelphia ladies. There were at least a hundred and fifty children present. It was very pleasant to see their happy, expectant little faces. To them it was a wonderful Christmas-day, such as they had never dreamed of before. There was cheerful sunshine without, lighting up the beautiful moss drapery of the oaks, and looking in joyously through the open windows; and there were bright faces and glad hearts within. After the distribution of the gifts, the children were addressed by some of the gentlemen present. Then they sang the following Hymn, which their good friend Whittier had written for them:-- "O, none in all the world before Were ever so glad as we! We're free on Carolina's shore, We're all at home and free. "Thou Friend and Helper of the poor, Who suffered for our sake, To open every prison-door, And every yoke to break,--