AN IDOLATER

THE Baby has no skies
But Mother's eyes,
Nor any God above
But Mother's Love.
His angel sees the Father's face,
But he the Mother's, full of grace;
And yet the heavenly kingdom is
Of such as this.

THE NEW-YEAR BABE

TWO together, Babe and Year,
At the midnight chime,
Through the darkness drifted here
To the coast of Time.
Two together, Babe and Year,
Over night and day,
Crossed the desert Winter drear
To the land of May.
On together, Babe and Year
Swift to Summer passed.
"Rest a moment, Brother dear,"
Said the Babe at last.
"Nay, but onward," answered Year,
"We must farther go,
Through the Vale of Autumn sere
To the Mount of Snow."
Toiling upward, Babe and Year
Climbed the frozen height.
"We may rest together here,
Brother Babe,—Good-night!"
Then together Babe and Year
Slept; but ere the dawn,
Vanishing, I know not where,
Brother Year was gone!

BICYCLES! TRICYCLES!

BICYCLES! Tricycles! Nay, to shun laughter,
Try cycles first, and buy cycles after;
For surely the buyer deserves but the worst
Who would buy cycles, failing to try cycles first.