es her now a gay toss,
The golden hair streaming like distaff of floss;
And so cheery the group that is ranged round the board,
That for snow, blessed snow! we all thank the good Lord.

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{247}

AN OLD SAW.

"If you'll break the first brake
And will kill the first snake,
You'll be sure to go through
With what you undertake."

Thus our Grandma, quaint but queenly,
Taught us grand-bairns one by one;
And the lesson relished keenly
Filled each spring-time full of fun.

For the watchful eyes were eager,
And the flying feet must roam
Till they every nook beleaguer
Round the old ancestral home.

* * * * *

But 'twas not the broken brakelet
That wrought good for after years;
Not the killing of the snakelet,
But the conquering of fears,

And the patient, wistful watching,
Educating thought and eye,
Made the brakelet and the snakelet
Types of weal for bye and bye.

{248}

_THE DANDELION BLOSSOM._

In the spring when the grass
Had sprung up in the pass,
And the meadows with velvet were green,
We children would tease,
"O, dear mother, please
Let us doff shoes and stockings,
(Ah! naught gave us shockings),
And barefooted run o'er the leas,
Aye, barefooted run o'er the leas."

And mother, so wise,
Looking into our eyes,-- {249}
"There's a snowdrift down under the hill!
But when you will bring me,
Yes, when you will fling me
A dandelion blossom
To wear on my bosom
You may barefooted run as you will,
Aye, barefooted run as you will."

So for "guineas of gold,"
O'er the dandelion-wold,
We hunted afar and anear;
And with shouts of delight
We all greeted the sight
Of the fully-blown flower
Presaging the shower
Of bright blossoms that brought us such cheer,
Aye, the blossoms that brought us such cheer.

* * * * *

FEAR naught save that which slimes thee o'er
With falsity or fraud:--
Let thine own soul stand clean and white
Before its maker, God.

{250}

_SUNSHINE._

The sun shines on forever
Though clouds may hide his face;
His brightness and his glory
The whole wide world may trace
For clouds are naught but vapor
Whose fleecy veils unfold,
And softest silver lining
We then with joy behold.

* * * * *

_OUR ETHEL._

Our Ethel was no