Once on a time in after years,

Love filled our hearts with hopes and fears;
And when the sunlight found its rest

Amid the rose-clouds in the west,

We built another castle fair,

A glad frail day-dream in the air;
Hope gilded all its towers with light,
Love reigned in it and made it bright;
Alas! I saw that castle fade

Almost as soon as it was made,
For oh! my darling, you are gone,
And I am here, alone! alone!

Five Kisses.

He kissed her first when her baby lips
Could scarcely his name unfold,
And he led her about with tender care
Because he was nine years old.

He kissed her again in childhood's time
When they wandered on hand in hand,
And sailed the boat he called by her name,
Or told tales of fairyland.

He kissed her once in her girlhood days
When the summer world was gay;
And he told his love in the moonshine rays,
Where the elm-trees shadows lay.

And he kissed her when,-a woman grown-
She stood by his side-his wife;

When she came with her beauty, youth and love,
To be queen of his heart and life.

He kissed her last with a broken sigh,
Her lips gave no answering breath,

For her voice was hushed and that loving heart
Was silent and still in death.

But the kiss he laid on those silent lips,
Was borne to the world above,

Where it shines a link in the golden chain
That binds him to his lost love.

The Six Bridges.

ABOVE a mighty river

Known as the stream of life Six bridges raise their arches Over the water's strife.

All who float on those waters
Breasting the breakers wide,
Must pass beneath those bridges
To rest beyond the tide.

One day a youth and maiden
Sailed from a flowery slope,
Drifted along the current

Under the Bridge of Hope.

Fresh blew the fav'ring breezes,

Dancing each foam-touched wave; Heart-whole and fair the maiden, Handsome the youth and brave.

Sudden the waves grew bluer,
Bright were the skies above;
For they were idly gliding,
Under the Bridge of Love.

He clasped her hand and whispered, "Maiden I love you well,

More than any man knoweth,

More than my tongue can tell."

"Be mine and let me shield you From trouble, care and strife,

And let us go together

Over the Stream of Life."

So on they sailed together,
Happy without alloy,

And the waters bore them swiftly
Under the Bridge of Joy.

Here where each laughing ripple
Light from the sunshine caught,
They would have stayed forever,
Thinking forever short.

Swiftly the stream grew darker,
Heavy their hearts with fears;
For they were tossing wildly
Under the Bridge of Tears.

Hushed was the girl's gay laughter,
Saddened her joyous eyes;
But Hope cried, "after shadow
Fresh sunshine shall arise."

The waves grew slowly calmer,
The darkness fled away;
But their faces bore times' impress,
Her golden hair was gray.

Their gaze was fixed beyond them,
No longer dimmed by tears;
They passed with quiet spirits
Beneath the Bridge of Years.

The shadows closed around them,
The waters widened fast;
They now saw closing over,

The Sixth Bridge—and the last.

But far beyond those arches
And the dusky shades of night,
They saw the gleam and glitter,
Of waves of living light.

They did not fear the shadows,
Nor felt the icy breath
That swept them o'er the surges
Beneath the Bridge of Death.

And now their last foe conquered, Safe on the other side;

They only saw the future,

And passed out with the tide.

Life's sorrows fell from off them
They both were clothed in white,
In regained youth and beauty
They sailed through waters bright.

Bathed in eternal sunshine

The scene before them lay,
Glad voices called them onward
To those fair realms of day.

Forever and forever

Where this life's troubles cease,
They rest in endless glory
Upon the sea of peace.

Quite another Thing.

"I LOVE a maiden fair to see;"

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'Nay, sir, what can that matter to me?For aught I care you may love a score, Yes, love them all, and as many more.'

"But I love one better than all," said he;
"Then tell your love to her and not to me,
Why linger longer with me to-night?
I can walk alone for the way is light."

"Ah! listen a little longer, Ninette,
Her eyes are blue and her hair like jet;
"I care not to hear, sir, so haste away
And tell your love to her; pray do not stay."

"But then I am telling her now," said he,
"Ah! that is a different matter," quoth she,
"Must I haste away quickly now, Ninette?"
Just please yourself," said the sweet coquette.

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"If I pleased myself I might not please you!" It matters not to me, sir, what you do!"

66

Sweetheart, don't trifle; I leave you to say

Remain or depart," "Then I think you may stay."

How to Spend Christmas.

How to spend Christmas? there is many a way
In which to make the swift hours gay and bright,
And cause such happiness that every day

May be remembered in its onward flight.

In those glad homes where wealth and light abound,
Listen for laughter's peal and music's flow;

See the fair forms and faces gathered round
The festive board beneath the lamplight's glow.

The evening passes there in dance and song,
(Ah, me! how fast time flies when life is fair!)
In mirth and gladness each hour glides along;
And no one feels the touch of want or care.

But should our days be filled with the sole aim
Of gratifying pleasure's eager call?

Ah, no! yet be it spoken to our blame,
Pleasure is often our chief aim and all.

When Christmas comes, it comes for rich and poor,
Brings for one gladness, for the other grief:
Look at the crowds which daily pass your door
With none to give them succour and relief.

God counts them as his children, and his love
Is just as great for them as 'tis for you,
And in the glory of the world above

There are of this world's beggars not a few.

Bestow on them a smile and not a frown,

Give them a fraction of your bounteous store; And know from heaven Christ is looking down And will forget your kindness nevermore,

C