Yon deep bark goes where traffic blows, From lands of sun to lands of snows: This happier one, its course is run From lands of snow to lands of sun.

O happy ship, to rise and dip,
With the blue crystal at your lip!
O happy crew, my heart with you
Sails, and sails, and sings anew!

No more, no more the worldly shore
Upbraids me with its loud uproar !
With dreamful eyes my spirit lies
Under the walls of Paradise!

XII.

FOR YOUNG FOLKS.

ANNIE AND WILLIE'S PRAYER.

MRS. SOPHIA P. SNOW.

'TWAS the eve before Christmas; "Good night" had been said And Annie and Willie had crept into bed:

There were tears on their pillows, and tears in their eyes,
And each little bosom was heaving with sighs,

For to-night their stern father's command had been given
That they should retire precisely at seven

Instead of at eight; for they troubled him more
With questions unheard-of than ever before:
He had told them he thought this delusion a sin;

No such being as Santa Claus ever had been,

And he hoped, after this, he should never more hear

How he scrambled down chimneys with presents, each year; And this was the reason that two little heads

So restlessly toss'd on their soft downy beds.

Eight, nine, and the clock on the steeple toll'd ten,
Not a word had been spoken by either till then ;
When Willie's sad face from the blanket did peep,
And whisper'd, "Dear Annie, is you fast asleep?"

66

Why, no, brother Willie," a sweet voice replies, "I've tried it in vain, but I can't shut my eyes;

For, somehow, it makes me so sorry because
Dear papa
has said there is no Santa Claus.
Now we know that there is, and it can't be denied,
For he came every year before mamma died:
But then I've been thinking that she used to pray,
And God would hear every thing mamma would say;
And perhaps she ask'd him to send Santa Claus here,
With the sacks full of presents he brought every year.”

"Well, why tant we pay dest as mamma did then, And ask Him to send him with presents aden?”

"I've been thinking so, too;" and, without a word more,
Four little bare feet bounded out on the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet press'd,

And two tiny hands were clasp'd close to each breast.
"Now, Willie, you know we must firmly believe
That the presents we ask for we're sure to receive:

You must wait just as still till I say the Amen,'

And by that you will know that your turn has come then.
Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and me,

And grant us the favour we are asking of Thee:
I want a wax dolly, a tea-set and ring,
And an ebony work-box that shuts with a spring.
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves us far better than he:
Don't let him get fretful and angry again,
At dear brother Willie, and Annie, Amen!'
"Peas Desus 'et Santa Taus tum down to-night,
And bing us some pesents before it is 'ight:
I want he should div me a nice ittle sed,
With bight, shiny unners, and all painted yed;
A box full of tandy, a book and a toy,

Amen, — and then, Desus, I'll be a dood boy.”

Their prayers being ended, they raised up their heads,
And with hearts light and cheerful again sought their beds;
They were soon lost in slumber both peaceful and deep,
And with fairies in dreamland were roaming in sleep.

Eight, nine, and the little French clock had struck ten,
Ere the father had thought of his children again:
He seems now to hear Annie's half-suppress'd sighs,
And to see the big tears stand in Willie's blue eyes:
"I was harsh with my darlings," he mentally said,
"And should not have sent them so early to bed;
But then I was troubled, my feelings found vent,
For bank stock to-day has gone down ten per cent.:
But of course they've forgotten their troubles ere this,
And that I denied them the thrice-ask'd-for kiss;
But just to make sure I'll steal up to their door,
For I never spoke harsh to my darlings before."

So saying, he softly ascended the stairs,

And arrived at the door to hear both of their prayers.
His Annie's "bless papa" draws forth the big tears,
And Willie's grave promise falls sweet on his ears.
"Strange, strange I'd forgotten," said he with a sigh,
"How I long'd when a child to have Christmas draw nigh:
I'll atone for my harshness," he inwardly said,
"By answering their prayers, ere I sleep in my bed."

Then he turn'd to the stairs, and softly went down,
Threw off velvet slippers and silk dressing-gown;
Donn'd hat, coat, and boots, and was out in the street,
A millionaire facing the cold driving sleet;

Nor stopp'd he until he had bought every thing,
From the box full of candy to the tiny gold ring.
Indeed he kept adding so much to his store,
That the various presents outnumber'd a score;
Then homeward he turn'd with his holiday load,
And with Aunt Mary's aid in the nursery 'twas stow'd.
Miss Dolly was seated beneath a pine tree,

By the side of a table spread out for a tea;
A work-box well fill'd in the centre was laid,
And on it the ring for which Annie had pray'd;
A soldier in uniform stood by a sled,

With bright shining runners, and all painted red;
There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleasing to see,
And birds of all colours were perch'd in the tree,
While Santa Claus laughing stood up in the top,
As if getting ready more presents to drop.
And, as the fond father the picture survey'd,

He thought, for his trouble he had amply been paid;
And he said to himself as he brush'd off a tear,
"I'm happier to-night than I've been for a year;
I've enjoy'd more true pleasure than ever before, —
What care I if bank stocks fall ten per cent. more?
Hereafter I'll make it a rule, I believe,

To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas-eve."
So thinking he gently extinguish'd the light,
And tripp'd down the stairs to retire for the night.
As soon as the beams of the bright morning Sun
Put the darkness to flight, and the stars, one by one,

Four little blue eyes out of sleep open'd wide,
And at the same moment the presents espied;
Then out of their beds they sprang with a bound,
And the very gifts pray'd for were all of them found:
They laugh'd and they cried in their innocent glee,
And shouted for "papa" to come quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the night,
(Just the things that they wanted,) and left before light:
"And now," added Annie, in a voice soft and low,
"You'll believe there's a Santa Claus, papa, I know";
While dear little Willie climb'd up on his knee,
Determined no secret between them should be,
And told in soft whispers how Annie had said,
That their blessèd mamma, so long ago dead,
Used to kneel down and pray by the side of her chair,
And that God, up in Heaven, had answer'd her prayer!
"Then we dot up, and pay'd dust as well as we tould,
And Dod answer'd our payers; now wasn't he dood?"
"I should say that He was if He sent you all these,
And knew just what presents my children would please :
Well, well, let him think so, the dear little elf;
'Twould be cruel to tell him I did it myself."

Blind father! who caused your proud heart to relent,
And the hasty word spoken so soon to repent?
'Twas the Being who made you steal softly up stairs,
And made you His agent to answer their prayers.

THE DEAD DOLL.

MARGARET VANDEGRIFT.

You needn't be trying to comfort me: I tell you my dolly is dead! There's no use in saying she isn't, with a crack like that in her

head!

It's just like you said it wouldn't hurt much to have my tooth out

that day;

And then, when the man most pull'd my head off, you hadn't a

word to say.