'SPERIENCE-(Continued)

An' I knows jess 'nuff to be on mah guard When Ole Man Skunk comes a-callin' in de yard. -ROBERT W. CHAMBERS.

AS

TO MY VALENTINE

S many as the Stars that shine,
As Billows on the ocean brine,
As Needles in the Woods of Pine,
So many Kisses, long and sweet,
I'd give, and take, and then repeat
If you were only, only mine,
And I your chosen Valentine.

-WILLIAM BELLAMY.

FANCHON

HERE was a little maiden

THE

When the moon was shining bright

Who danced with her shadow
Throughout the long night.

There you'll hear the crickets singing

Their soft and sweet refrain,

And if they whisper "Fanchon,"

That was the maiden's name.

-MAGGIE MITCHELL.

THE

KINDLY ACTIONS

HERE is no Royal Road to heaven they say, But little kindly actions done each day Must lead, methinks, that way!

-Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

TH

MY JEWELS

HERE are goldfish that glitter and shine in the light,

And swim 'round and 'round from morning till

night,

In a crystal bowl like a bubble in air,

And they, dear child, make my world seem fair.

There's a bird that hangs in the window too,
In a little cage all painted blue.

And he chirps and sings, and if he were gone,
My world, dear child, would seem forlorn.

There's a wee little dog named Kickapoo
Whose love for me is strong and true,
And his only wish is to be with me,

So these are my jewels, dear child, you see.

-MRS. VERNON CASTLE.

DAWNS

SPIRIT moved in the world's first night,
Over the waters, madly stirred,

And the calm which followed the birth of light
Thrilled to the song of a little bird.

So through the dark of war and fear
A spirit shall move, and the chaos cease,
The shuddering world awake to hear
A bird-song trilling the dawn of Peace.

-EMMA CECELIA THURSBY.

A

MAXIM

WOMAN of the world should always have been but should never be in love.

She should always have a grief, never a griev

ance.

She should always be the mistress of her sorrow, never its servant..

-ELSIE DE Wolfe.

THE

CHRISTMAS DAWN

HE years have darkened o'er our lives, The songs of morning stars have ceased; Faith trembles at the step of Death, When, lo! His star shines in the East!

The fresh wind blowing o'er the sea,
Across gray waves of rushing spray,
Brush back the mists of years, and slow
Unfolds the blossom of the Day!

Oh, radiant Day! When all the world
Would bend to kiss a Baby's hand-
And sudden burst of singing joy

Thrills through the sin-swept, sleeping land!

And once again we're young and glad,
Again our heavy eyes have smiled;
For all the earth has caught the light
That shines about a new born Child!

-MARGARET Deland.