wonder of wonders is properly known.
Where go you?
Ah, that now, 'tis only He knows,
Who sweetly on us, dear, such favour bestows.
In us, dear, this day is some great work begun,--
Ah me, little son dear, I would it were done!
I wonder ... I wonder ...
And--wish--it--were--done!

"O little, little feet, dears.
So curly, curly sweet!--
How will it be with you, dears,
When all your work's complete?
O little, little hands, dears,
That creep about my breast!--
What great things you will do, dears,
Before you lie at rest!
O softest little head, dear,
It shall have crown of gold,
For it shall have great honour
Before the world grows old!
O sweet, white, soft round body,
It shall sit upon a throne!
My little one, my little one,
Thou art the Highest's son!
All this the angel told me,
And so I'm sure it's true,
For he told me who was coming,--
And that sweet thing is _YOU_."

On Christmas Day The Child was born,
On Christmas Day in the morning;--
_--He trod the long way, lone and lorn,
--He wore the bitter crown of thorn,
--His hands and feet and heart were torn,
--He died at last the Death of Scorn_.
But through His coming Death was slain,
That you and I might live again.

For this The Child of The Maid was born,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

WASTED?

Think not of any one of them as wasted,
Or to the void like broken tools outcasted,--
Unnoticed, unregretted, and unknown.
Not so is His care shown.

Know this!--
In God's economy there is no waste,
As in His Work no slackening, no haste;
But noiselessly, without a sign,
The measure of His vast design
Is all fulfilled, exact as He hath willed.

And His good instruments He tends with care,
Lest aught their future usefulness impair,--
As Master-craftsman his choice tools doth tend,
Respecting each one as a trusty friend,
Cleans them, and polishes, and puts away,
For his good usage at some future day;--
So He unto Himself has taken these,
Not to their loss but to their vast increase.
To us,--the loss, the emptiness, the pain;
But unto them--all high eternal gain.

SHORTENED LIVES

To us it seemed his life was too soon done,
Ended, indeed, while scarcely yet begun;
God, with His clearer vision, saw that he
Was ready for a larger ministry.

Just so we thought of Him, whose life below
Was