d any pleasure or amusement to my readers, I feel amply
repaid. If anything which I have said has given offence or caused
displeasure in any quarter, kindly permit me to say that it was done
quite unwittingly.

The Christmas season will soon be here, and in preparation for that glad
time let us put away envy and malice, and offer peace and good-will unto
all. I think the following poem will seasonably conclude my present
series of writings:--

CHRISTMAS DAY

Sweet lady, 't is no troubadour
That sings so sweetly at your door,
To tell you of the joys in store--
So grand and gay;
But one that sings "Remember t' poor,
'Tis Christmas Day."

Within some gloomy walls to-day
Just cheer the looks of hoary gray,
And try to smooth their rugged way
With cheerful glow;
And cheer the widow's heart, I pray,
Crushed down with woe.

O! make the weary spent-up glad,
And cheer the orphan lass and lad;
Make frailty's heart, so long, long sad,
Your kindness feel;
And make old crazy-bones stark mad
To dance a reel.

Then, peace and plenty be your lot,
And may your deed ne'er be forgot
That helps the widow in her cot
Out of your store;
Nor creed, nor seed, should matter not--
The poor are poor.

[_The End_]

Footnotes

{1} Each chapter corresponds to a separate article in the Keighley
Herald and are numbered as such in the newspaper. To help in locating
the originals the following may be useful:

Chapter Issue of the Keighley Herald

I 2 June 1893

II 9 June 1893

III 16 June 1893

IV 23 June 1893

V 30 June 1893

VI 7 July 1893

VII 14 July 1893

VIII 21 July 1893

IX 28 July 1893

X 4 August 1893

XI 11 August 1893

XII 18 August 1893

XIII 1 September 1893

XIV 8 September 1893

XV 15 September 1893

XVI 22 September 1893

XVII 29 September 1893

XVIII 6 October 1893

XIX 13 October 1893

XX 20 November 1893

XXI 27 October 1893

XXII 3 November 1893

XXIII