time Thanksgiving, Uncle Billy?"

"Splendid, splendid! All the boys an' gals come home an' brung theyr
kids along, an' me an' mother felt twenty years er more younger. An'
mother an' the gals got up a spankin' dinner an' we had a plenty of raal
fine enjoyment. If it hadn't a-been fer one unfortnit thing, it would
a-been mighty nigh perfect."

"What was that?"

"The crusts to mother's mince-pies all soaked in the bottom, an' she
couldn't eat fer grievin' over it!"

Signs of Winter.

Winter's comin', fellers!
Blizzards soon'll blow!
Cotton all is gethered,--
Money spent, ye know!
Ole Thanksgivin's over,--
Weather's so and so,
Kids a-lookin' Christmas
Everywhayre ye go!

Keep Them Alive.

Keep Hope alive! Though failure comes
Adown life's varied stream,
Behold, joy beats her mighty drums
And brave men toil and dream!

Keep Faith alive! Though evil strays
Across the paths you tread,
Yet Goodness blesses all your ways,--
The living and the dead!

Keep Love alive! Though burdens press
And crush with anguish sore,
Sweet Love shall crown with happiness
The sad heart evermore!

Little Sermons.

Nothing takes a man down so much as to contrast what he is with what he
meant to be.

Some people are so sure they are going to miss hell in the hereafter
that they proceed to make as much as possible while in this world.

We don't know what Satan's steady occupation is, but if all reports are
true he must saw lots of wood in order to keep up the fires in his
settlement all the year 'round.

The Christmas Fiddles.

I.

Tune up the Christmas fiddles! There's happiness about,
And willing fingers waiting to coax the music out!
There's music in the valley, there's music on the plain,
And music in the measures of happy sun and rain;
Then fix your fiddles, fellers! The music fond and sweet
Is waiting,--waiting ever,--the music of the feet!

II.

Tune up the Christmas fiddles! The royal raptures flow
From finger-tips of gladness to happy heel and toe,
Till joyous hearts are beating and rosy lips of love
Are sweet as fairy music from the heaven harps above!
Then fix your fiddles, fellers! To match the merry sound
We'll dance the Christmas chorus and swing the partners' round!

III.

Tune up the Christmas fiddles!
They're lonely with the song