ng half so small.

I know what will do for baby;
I've thought of a first-rate plan;
I'll borrow a stocking of grandma--
The longest that I ever can.

And you shall hang it by mine, mother,
Right here in the corner--so;
And write a letter for baby.
And fasten it on the toe.

"Old Santa Claus, this is a stocking
Hung up for our baby dear;
You never have seen our darling,
He has not been with us a year,

"But he is a beautiful baby;
And now, before you go,
Please cram this stocking with presents,
From the top of it down to the toe.

"Put in a baby's rattle,
Also a coral ring,
A bright new ribbon for his waist;
Some beads hung on a string

"And mind a coloured ball please,
And a tiny pair of shoes;
You'll see from this little stocking,
The size you have to choose."

Santa Claus

A health to good old Santa Claus,
And to his reindeer bold,
Whose hoofs are shod with elder-down,
Whose horns are tipped with gold.

Ho comes from utmost fairyland
Across the wintry snows;
He makes the fir-tree and the spruce
To blossom like the rose.

Over the quaint old gables,
Over the windy ridge,
By turret wall and chimney tall,
He guided his fairy sledge;

He steals upon the slumbers
Of little rose-lipped girls,
And lays his waxen dollies down
Beside their golden curls.

He scatters blessings on his way,
And sugar-coated plums;
He robs the sluggard from his rest
With trumpets, guns, and drums.

Small feet, before the dawn of day,
Are marching to and fro,
Drums beat to arms through all the house,
And penny trumpets blow.

A health to brave old Santa Claus,
And to his reindeer bold,
Whose hoofs are shod with elder-down,
Whose horns are tipped with gold.

S. H. Whitman

[Page 81--Play Land]

[Illustration: Father making Shadow-Rabbit for Daughter.]

The Rabbit on the Wall

The children shout with laughter,
The uproar louder grows;
Even grandma chuckles faintly,
And Johnny chirps and crows.
There ne'er was gilded painting,
Hung up in lordly hall,
Gave half the simple pleasure
As this rabbit on the wall.

The cottage work is over,
The evening meal is done;
Hark! thro' the starlight stillness
You hear the river run.
The little children whisper,
Then speak out one and a