THE GREAT CHRISTMAS FIRE.

The Eye of the Room.

OF old we've learnt

A log half-burnt

Was saved to kindle next year's blaze ;

The brand meanwhile

That lights the pile,

Had lit the fires of elder days.

Thus through the dark,

While flash and spark

Linked year to year, and flame to flame,

They lessons leave

To all that grieve—

How hearts and souls may burn the same.

The log we light

Is memory bright,

Heaped up with scorching, crackling joy;

The brand that lit—

Old games, old wit—

Romps, known when Man was but a Boy!

CHRISTMAS ALWAYS.

A street cry is heard the voice of an Earth-spirit.

'Christmas comes but once a year!' -Who so sings of Christmas here?

CHILD

Christmas comes back every year;
Where goes Christmas, father dear?
Why not let sweet Christmas stay,
Keeping Christmas day by day!
Since the blaze will always spread,
Since the berry's always red,
Since this blue flame's always bright,
Should not hearts be always light!

CRY

'Christmas comes but once a year!' -Sing not so of Christmas dear!

FATHER

From the heart when Christmas flies,

Want and avarice, fear and lies,

Hold their place, with toil and pain, Until Christmas comes again! Going-coming !—yet while you, Loving earth, to heaven are true; Count three hundred sixty-five,

So many days shall Christmas thrive!

CRY

'Christmas comes but once a year!' -Truth, sweet truth, oh, sing it clear!

OLD MAN

Once a year its bounty floweth,
Hither, hither-once it goeth.

Once it comes to bless us all,
Once, and makes no second call.
Why because each spirit fine
Keeps its Christmas always! Mine
Ends at twelve o'clock-no more--
On December twenty-four !
Ever here, oh ! ever here!

'Christmas time' is 'all the year!'

PART II.

POEMS OF HUMOUR.