O the angels know the blessed day,

And strike their harps anew?

Then may the echo of their lay

Float sweetly down to you,

And fill your soul with Christmas song

That your heart shall echo your whole life long.

Havergal.

A bright and happy Christmas to you! Lift up yourselves to thegreat meaning of the day, and dare to think of your humanity assomething so sublimely precious that it is worthy of being madean offering to God, and then go out to the pleasures and dutiesof your life, having been truly born anew into His Divinity, asHe was born into our humanity on Christmas Day.

Phillips Brooks.

Most tangible of all the gods that be,

O Santa Claus—our own since infancy!—

As first we scampered to thee—now, as then,

Take us as children to thy heart again.

Riley.

HEN welcome

snow of

Christmas,

We read thy

prophecy,

We know what

wish lies hidden,

What germs of

life may be

Concealed beneath

thy mantle,

All folded close

away,

Awaiting their fruition,

In heaven's eternal day.

M. C. O.

One wish ere yet the long year ends;

Let's close it with a parting rhyme,

A pledge, a hand, to all our friends

As fits the merry Christmas time:

On life's wide scene you, too, have parts,

That Fate ere long shall bid you play;

Good-night: with honest, gentle hearts,

A kindly greeting go alway.

Thackeray.