freely, and to think of people
below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave,
and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And
therefore, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my
pocket, I believe that it _has_ done me good, and _will_ do me good;
and I say, God bless it!

_From "A Christmas Carol."
Charles Dickens._

[Illustration]

Hark, the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
The Saviour promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song!

He comes, the prisoners to release
In Satan's bondage held;
The gates of brass before Him burst,
The iron fetters yield.

He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasure of His grace
T' enrich the humble poor.

Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim,
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.

_Philip Doddridge._

Christ is come to be my Friend,
Leading, loving to the end;
Christ is come to be my King,
Ordering, ruling everything.
Christ is come! Enough for me,
Lonely though the pathway be.

_F. R. Havergal._

Ye who have scorn'd each other
Or injured friend or brother,
In this fast fading year;
Ye who, by word or deed,
Hath made a kind heart bleed,
Come gather here.
Let sinn'd against and sinning,
Forget their strife's beginning;
Be links no longer broken,
Be sweet forgiveness spoken,
Under the holly bough.

Ye who have lov'd each other,
Sister and friend and brother,
In this fast fading year:
Mother, and sire, and child,
Young man and maiden mild,
Come gather here;
And let your hearts grow fonder,
As memory shall ponder
Each past unbroken vow.
Old loves and younger wooing,
Are sweet in the renewing,
Under the holly bough.

Ye who have nourished sadness,
Estranged from hope and gladness,
In this fast fading year.
Ye with o'er-burdened mind
Made aliens from your kind,
Come gather here.

Let not the useless sorrow
Pursue you night and morrow,
If e'er you hoped--hope now--
Take heart: uncloud your faces,
And join in our embraces
Under the holly bough.

_Charles Mackay, LL. D._

[Illustration]

Come all you weary wanderers
Beneath the wintry sky,
This day forget your worldly cares,
And lay your sorrows by:
Awake and sing
The church bells ring,
For this is Christmas morning!

With grateful hearts salute th