IT tolls from the tower, a midnight strain, Tolls the bell, telling us well That "Eighty-five" has gone away; That he ended his life this very day. That he could with us no longer stay. Ah, solemnly sounds the sad refrain, As the tolling bell doth the sad news tell. It tolls from the tower, and wakens the night; Tolls the bell, telling us well That "Eighty-five" we'll see no more; The year which has yielded such precious store, Brought us bounties unknown before. Ah! never again shall we see its light; With the toll of the bell, we must say farewell. It _rings_ from the tower, a midnight peal! Rings the bell, telling us well That Eighty-six is born to-night. Eighty-six! so young and bright; A brand-new year all plumed for flight. Ah! precious year, may it bring us weal; And its moments tell that we spent them well. REV. G. R. ALDEN. [Illustration: A NEW YEAR'S BREAKFAST.] _Volume 13, Number 11._ Copyright, 1886, by D. LOTHROP & CO. _Jan. 16, 1886._ THE PANSY. [Illustration: HAPPY NEW YEAR!] ARTHUR IN THE MUSEUM. MR. ESSEX and his son Arthur had spent an hour riding through the park. For a change, they entered the museum to see the curiosities there. Arthur preferred the great hall where the animals were confined in their iron cages. He never tired of gazing at the glaring eyes of the tiger, and watching his tread round and round his prison, as if to find some way out. Now and then he would utter a terrible growl that would make Arthur tremble. Near by lay asleep "the king of the forest," as the lion is called. And a little farther yet was the monkey department. [Illustration: THE STUFFED DONKEY.] Once there, laughing at their funny pranks, Arthur cared not to go a step further or see anything else. Suddenly looking around he exclaimed, "Father, do see that queer chap up there, making faces and shaking his head at some of us. I wonder what he would do if he could get at us." "Scratch your eyes out, maybe," said a strange voice. Arthur started at the unaccustomed tones and searched anxiously the many faces for his father's, but it was not among them. Where was he? Was Arthur alone? Had his father left him in such a place? He pressed his way out of the throng, hurried this way and that, wondering what he should do, when to his great joy there sat his father looking up at a donkey that stood in a high place calmly contemplating the people below. "Why, father," broke out Arthur, "I feared I or you was lost. But what are you doing in this spot, looking at that stupid beast? Did you never see a donkey before?" "Not such a donkey," was the answer. "Umph! what's a donkey pray, but--a donkey? Stubborn, ugly thing. Come and see the monkeys and enjoy yourself. All the people are there. They are cutting up enough to make you laugh yourself to pieces."