Then, when nine o'clock struck, and the frolic and fun
Had risen almost to their highest,
And pleasure was beaming, and every one
Was happy, from bravest to shyest.
Our dear Mother went to the organ and played
A carol so sweet and so tender;
We prayed while we sang, and we sang as we prayed,
To Jesus, our Prince and Defender.
Oh! Jesus, who came as a Babe to the earth,
Who slept 'mid the kine, in a manger;
Oh! Jesus, our Lord, in whose heavenly birth
Is pledge of our ransom from danger.
Strong Son of the Father, divine from of old,
And Son of the race, child of woman;
Increasing in might as the ages unfold,
Redeemer, our God, and yet human.
Then we said "Merry Christmas" once more and we went
Away from the holly and cedar,
And home we all scattered, quite glad and content,
And henceforward our Lord is our Leader.
Archie's Vacation.
BY MARY JOANNA PORTER.
"Papa has come," shouted Archie Conwood, as he rushed down stairs two steps at a time, with his sisters Minnie and Katy following close behind, and mamma bringing up the rear. Papa had been to Cousin Faraton's to see if he could engage summer board for the family.
Cousin Faraton lived in a pleasant village about a hundred miles distant from the city in which Mr. and Mrs. Conwood were living. They had agreed that to board with him would insure a pleasant vacation for all.