Of the mountains of sin hanging o'er them,
Of the temposts of fate blowing wild-
O there's nothing on earth half so holy
As the innocent heart of a child.

They are idols of hearts and of households,
They are angels of God in disguise-
His sunlight still sleeps in their tresses,
His glory still beams in their eyes-
Oh, those truants from earth and from heaven,
They have made me more manly and mild,
And I know now how Jesus could liken

The kingdom of God to a child.

I seek not a life for the dear ones

All radiant, as others have done,

But that life may have just enough shadow To temper the glare of the sun,

I would pray God to guard them from evil,
But my prayer would bound back to myself

Ah! a seraph may pray for a sinner,
But a sinner must pray for himself.

The twig is so easily bended,

I have banished the rule and the rod;

I have taught them the goodness of knowledge, They have taught me the goodness of God. My heart is a dungeon of darkness,

Where I shut them from breaking a rule;

My frown is sufficient correction,

My love is the law of the school,

I shall leave the old house in the autumn,
To traverse its threshold no more;
Ah! how shall I sigh for the dear ones

That meet me each morn at the door,
I shall miss the "good-nights" and the kisses,
And the gush of their innocent glee,

The group on the green, and the flowers

That are brought every morning to me.

I shall miss them at morn and at eve,

Their song in the school and the street, I shall miss the low hum of their voices, And the tramp of their delicate feet. When the lessons and tasks are all ended,

And Death says the school is dismissed, May the little ones gather around me,

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And bid me 'good-night" and be kissed.

HOW IT HAPPENED.

How did it happen? you want to know?
Well, old boy, I can hardly tell.
Off we went o'er the frozen snow;
Merrily jingled each silvery bell.
I was awkward and she was shy.
Jove! what a ride we had that night!
Trees and houses a-flying by,

Her cheeks a-glow and her eyes a-light,

What did I say? I said 'twas cold;

Tucked the robes round her dainty feet, While her hair, in the starlight, shone like gold, And her laughter echoed so clear and sweet. And then we drove around the mill,

Across the river, above the glen,

Where the brooklet's voice was hushed and still, And I said that it looked like frost again.

And somehow I held her hands in mine-
Only to keep them warm, you know—
While brighter the starlight seemed to shine,
And diamonds sparkled upon the snow;
And-well, old boy, so it happened then

I won my love while the night grew old.
What do you say? Did it freeze again?
Maybe; but we didn't feel the cold,

The pastor said: "Thou should'st not thus
Present the fowl to me;

Come! take my chair, and for me ask,
And I will act for thee."

The preacher's chair received the boy,
The fowl the pastor took-
Went out with it and then came in
With pleasant smile and look ;

And to his young pro tem he said :
Dear sir, my honored master
Presents this turkey, and his best

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Respects to you, his pastor.”

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Good!" said the boy; your master is A gentleman and scholar!

My thanks to him, and for yourself,

Here is a half a dollar!”

The pastor felt around his mouth
A most peculiar twitching;
And, to the gobbler holding fast,

He bolted" for the kitchen.

He gave the turkey to the cook,

And came back in a minute,

Then took the youngster's hand and left
A half a dollar in it.

BROWN'S MISTAKE.

Not many years ago there was a man,
His name I'll now call " Brown,"
Who owned a little scrubby farm,
A few miles out of town.

He used to have an old white horse,
A harness and a gig,

He also had a big white cow,
Some chickens and a pig.

His wife, she sometimes did the chores
When he was gone away,

Would feed the pig, and milk the cow,
And give the horse some hay ;

For Brown when he was 'way from home.
Most always had a spree,

And when he did come home at night,
Was drunk as he could be.

It happened once when Brown was off

Upon a jolly lark,

His wife, she had to do the chores,

Alone, and in the dark.

She thought perhaps ere morn 'twould rain

It was such cloudy weather,

And so she put both horse and cow,

Into the pen together.

Now Brown, when he came home that night,

Was rather drunk, of course;

A strange freak, too, came in his head

He'd harness up his horse,

So down the road he staggered then,
And cursed for want of light,

But when he reached the barn he found
His things were there all right.

Then, after fussing quite a spell,

He got hitched up his rig,

And picking up the whip and reins
He jumped into the gig.

"Get up, you lazy, old white nag!
Go on, you beast," he cried;
“Though dark the night, what do I care?
I'm bound to have a ride!"

But no! the old beast would not go;

All the coaxing was in vain,

Then Brown commenced to curse and swear
And jerk upon the rein.

His wife, she heard him from the house,

And wondered what could be,

So down she came in breathless haste,

With lantern lit to see.

Why, Brown," she cried, "what does this mean?

You're horrid drunk to-night."

Then going closer up to him,

She held aloft the light.

but back she fell with sudden fear-
The sight was strange, I vow;
For he had not hitched up his horse,
But harnessed up his cow.

BUDD'S CHRISTMAS STOCKING.

It was Christmas-time, as all the world knew;
It stormed without, and the cold wind blew,
But within all was cheerful, snug, and bright,
With glowing fires and many a light.

Budd B. was sent quite early to bed,

His stocking was hung up close to his head,