valiance bore her,
Nor did she recognize a soul
But braved the buzzing room before her

With such resolve that guest on guest,
And many a smiling nun behind them,
Met her eyes obviously addressed
To proving that she did not mind them.

(So might a kitchen-kitten see--
Whose thoughts round housemaids' heels are centred--
The awful drawing-room's company
He inadvertently has entered.)

Swift from her side the girlish crowd,
With lovely smiles and limber graces,
Went singly, took their prizes, bowed,
Returning sweetly to their places.

Then "Betsey-Jane!" and all the rout
(Her hidden mother grown romantic)
Beheld that little craft put out
Upon the polished floor's Atlantic.

The Personage bestowed her prize,
And Betsey, lowly as the others,
Bowed o'er her sandals, raised her eyes
Alight with pride--and met her mother's!

She thrust between the honoured row
Before her in her glad elation;
Her school-mates gasped to see her go;
The nuns divined her destination;

The guests made way. Clap following clap
Acclaimed Convention's overleaping
As Betsey gained her mother's lap
And gave the prize into her keeping.

* * * * *

Royalties We Have Never Met.

I. THE EMPEROR WILLIAMS.

"The Emperor Williams, who was reported to have been at Breslau ...
seems to have returned to Berlin."--_Evening Despatch._

* * * * *

Illustration:

_At the "Spotted Dog."_ "I 'EAR THERE BE TWO HUNDRED
SOLDIERS--BORDERERS, THEY CALLS 'EM--'AVE COME 'ERE. DO YER RECKON
THEY'LL BE FOR US OR AGIN' US, JARGE?"

* * * * *

ON EARTH--PEACE.

Judge of the passionate hearts of men,
God of the wintry wind and snow,
Take back the blood-stained year again,
Give us the Christmas that we know!

No stir of wings sweeps softly by;
No angel comes with blinding light;
Beneath the wild and wintry sky
No shepherds watch their flocks tonight.

In the dull thunder of the wind
We hear the cruel guns afar,
But in the glowering heavens we find
No guiding, solitary star.

* * *

But lo! on this our Lord's birthday,
Lit by the glory whence she came,
Peace, like a warrior, stands at bay,
A swift, defiant, living flame!

Full-armed she stands in shining mail,
Erect, serene, unfaltering sti