my hand; take it
kindly.

_Mr. B_. And there's mine, with all my heart. We'll not let a bit of
land divide old friends.

_Mr. R_. Aye, aye! We'd better divide the land.

_Mr. B_. It seems easy to settle now. But no more of that to-night.
Come, let us sing our Christmas carol. It will be sweeter than ever.
Take your harp, friend, and turn minstrel again for the occasion.

[Illustration]

With wond'ring awe,
Tho wise men saw
The star in Heaven springing,
And with delight
In peaceful night,
They heard the angels singing,
Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna to His name!

By light of star,
They traveled far
To seek the lowly manger;
A humble bed
Wherein was laid
The wondrous little stranger.
Hosanna, hosanna,
Hosanna to His name!

And still is found,
The world around,
The old and hallowed story;
And still is sung
In every tongue
The angels' song of glory:
Hosanna, hosanna,
Hosanna to His name!

The heavenly star
Its ray afar
On every land is throwing
And shall not cease
Till holy peace,
In all the earth is glowing.
Hosanna, hosanna,
Hosanna to His name!

[Illustration]

JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS to you, my darlings! It's cold weather--too cold for
any but a Scribner Jack-in-the-Pulpit to be out-of-doors--but our
hearts are green, and there's a fine bracing air.

Christmas will not be here when you first get the December magazine, I
know, but ST. NICHOLAS likes to get a good start. He has Dutch blood in
his veins, and he knows well that in Holland St. Nicholas' Day comes on
the 6th of December.

So, just think of the dear Dutch youngsters, and what a happy holiday
they keep on the 6th,--for that is their season of gift-giving,--and
when the 25th comes to you, with its holy, beautiful light, and its
home joys, you'll be all the more ready to give it welcome.

Now for

A WINDFALL.

Here is a copy of a printed scrap thrown to me by a high wind the other
day. It isn't of very much use to a Jack-in-the-Pulpit; so I hand it
over to you, my chicks. It strikes me that it has the gist of some of
Deacon Green's remarks, and that somehow it doesn't come under the head
of what is called "pernicious reading":

"GOOD ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG.--Avoid al