came,
And wished each other joy and peace,
Embracing in the dear Lord's name.

Now o'er a weary, wintry waste,
My heart a loving pilgrim wends
Her pious way, this holy time,
To greet you, O beloved friends!

Fondly I long to take my place
Beside your hearth, its joy to share,--
To sun me in the summer smiles
Of the dear faces gathered there.

But baby eyes upraised to mine,
And baby fingers on my breast,
Steep all my soul in sweet content,--
Charm even _such_ longings into rest.

Yet, dear ones, let my name be breathed
Kindly around the Christmas tree,
And my soul's presence greet, as oft
In Christmas times ye 've greeted me.

No unadorned and humble guest
Comes that fond soul this blessed even
She bears a jewel on her breast
That radiates the light of heaven.

A rose, that breathes of Paradise,
Just budded from the life divine,
A little, tender, smiling babe,
As yet more God's and heaven's than mine.

Born in the Saviour's hallowed month,
A blessed Christ-child may she be,
A little maiden of the Lord,
Room for _her_ by the Christmas tree!

ABOUT SOME SCOTTISH CHILDREN.

CASTLE AND COTTAGE.

It would seem that little Bertha Blantyre had everything that her heart
could wish. She was an only daughter, and a pretty, blooming, petted
darling. Her father was a rich lord, and, what was better, a good and
kind-hearted man. Her mother was a noble lady, and, what was more, a
gentle and loving woman, and even little Bertha had from her cradle the
title of "Honorable," which is as much as our great Congressmen can
boast. Yet I am sorry to say, this little lady was not always as happy
and grateful as she should have been, but was sometimes sadly
discontented, believing that other children were far happier than she.
All such little girls as had brothers and sisters to play with them,
and run about with them in the woods and over the moors, she envied
bitterly, even though they were the children of poor peasants,--never
thinking it possible that they might be envying her at the same time.

Lord Blantyre resided principally at Blantyre Castle, on a noble
estate, among the heathery hills of Scotland. The Castle was very
ancient, with towers, and turrets, and a massive gateway, but it had
many modern additions which beautified it, and gave it a cheerful,
almost home-like look. Through the old moat there slowly r