 December day wore on
       E'er the door was opened noiselessly,
     And the light streamed out in the dusky hall
     From a beautiful cedar bright and tall.
       Starry tapers were gleaming there,
       Toy and trumpet and banner fair,
     The topmost flag on the ceiling bore
     While the laden branches swept the floor;
       While gay little Rover frisking in,
       Led the children in frolic and din
     As they spied each treasure and in their glee
     Shouted with joy round the Christmas tree,
     While Papa stood back in a corner to see.

     "Oh! Harry", said Nellie, "I do declare
       Here's a basket for me!" She opened the lid
     And pulled back the blanket folded there
       And what d'ye think was safely hid
     But a dear live baby so fast asleep
       That it never waked up with the children's shout
     Till Nellie asked, "is it ours to keep?"
       And kissed its hand as she stood in doubt.

     "Of course," said Harry, "don't angels know
     When God has told them which way to go?
     That's our little sister we wanted so!"

     "Little sister", said Nellie, "I'm very glad,
     I know you're the best Heavenly Father had
       And now you're ours and you're going to stay
       'Cause the angels have left you and gone away".
     "No, my Nellie", a voice replied,
     As Papa drew near to Nellie's side,
       "Let us pray they may watch over this little one
       Day by day, till life is done,
     That she may be glad through eternity
     She was ever left 'neath our Christmas tree".


Miss Margaret H. Garrard.

Our gifted young townswoman, Miss Garrard, who has often entertained us
with her rare dramatic talent, has contributed, for a number of years,
articles in prose and verse to well-known magazines and journals, notably
to _Lippincott's Magazine_ and _Life_. In _Lippincott_ for June, 1890, we
find a very pretty poem embodying a clever thought and entitled "A
Coquette's Motto". In a previous number appears "A Trip to Tophet", which
is a sparkling and graphic des