Then homeward he turned with his holiday load,

And with Aunt Mary's help in the nursery 'twas stored.
Miss Dolly was seated beneath a pine tree,

By the side of a table, spread out for her tea,
A work-box well-filled, in the centre was laid,
And on it a ring for which Annie had prayed

A soldier in uniform stood by a sled,

"With bright shining runners, and all painted red."
There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleasing to see,
And birds of all colors were perched in the tree.
While Santa Claus, laughing, stood up in the top,
As if getting ready more presents to drop,
And as the fond father the picture surveyed,
He thought, for his trouble, he'd amply been paid,
And he said to himself as he brushed off a tear,
I'm happier to night than I've been for a year:
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before;
What care I if bank stock fall ten per cent. more?
Hereafter I make it a rule, I believe,

To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas Eve."
So thinking he gently extinguished the light,
And tripped down the stairs to retire for the night.
As soon as the beams of the bright morning sun
Put the darkness to flight and the stars, one by one,
Four little blue eyes out of sleep opened wide,
And at the same moments the presents espied.
Then out of their beds they sprang with a bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all of them found.
They laughed and they cried in their innocent glee,
And shouted for "papa" to come quick and see.
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the night,
(Just the things that they wanted,) and left before light,
"And now," added Annie, in a voice soft and low,
"You'll believe there's a Santa Claus, papa, I know."
While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee,
Determined no secret between them should be.
And told in soft whispers, how Annie had said
That their blessed mamma, so long ago dead,

Used to kneel down and pray by the side of her chair, And that God up in heaven had answered her prayer. Then we dot up and prayed dest as well as we tould,

And Dod answered our prayers. Now wasn't he dood?" "I should say that he was, if he sent you all these,

And knew just what presents my children would please. (Well, well let him think so, the dear little elf, 'Twould be cruel to tell him I did it myself.") Blind father! Who caused your stern heart to relent? And the hasty words spoken so soon to repent? "Twas the being who bade you steal softly up stairs, And made you his agent to answer their prayers.

Humble we must be, if to heaven we go;
High is the roof there, but the gate is low.--Herrick.

THE NEW YEAR.

BY THE EDITOR.

We wish our readers a happy New Year! It is the twenty-fifth New Year's greeting that the GUARDIAN bears to its friends. January 1, 1850, twenty-five years ago, did this Magazine start into being. Its age is twenty-four years, its birth-days are twentyfive. From the start it aimed to do good, and more particularly to "Young men and ladies." While it has steadily kept this aim in view, it may have changed in some respects. But its change has been such as an increase of age brings to all rational beings. Its views of Life, Light and Love, are the same now as they were then. Its sympathy with the young is as lively and warm now as it was then. Although older, it feels as young and as buoyant with cheerful hope as ever. Age and experience, however, widen the scope of one's vision, the extent if not the quality of his knowledge. Yet this Magazine has all along its life been a unit. Its system of thought is now what it was twenty-four years ago. It is the same tree it was then, only older, and in some respects more developed.

Like all young people, the GUARDIAN is fond of society, and greatly enjoys company. Some people have an idea that its presence cultivates and improves social intercourse. It is eager to form new acquaintances. Its friends will confer a great favor by introducing it to their friends. We have the vanity to believe that in this way both parties might be benefited. Young ladies, to whom the GUARDIAN has been a good friend from childhood, would do well to ask their gentlemen friends to subscribe for it. The said gentlemen are in that interesting state of mind which leads them to do everything in their power to please the being whom they so tenderly love. Now is your time. Bring them under the influence of a counsellor that will inform them what they must do to become good husbands, and above all, good Christians.

We ask our friends to aid us in increasing the circulation and Christian influence of the GUARDIAN. Our contributors will please not grow weary in well-doing. Their articles have been read with pleasure and profit, and we trust that they will continue to enrich

our pages.

THE Germans have a beautiful legend, which they more than half believe, that on Christmas morning the Child, born in a stable, revisits earth, to look after all other little ones; that from the little prince in his royal cradle to the baby sleeping like Himself in straw, none are left unvisited by Him, that He may know how

men have welcomed those whom He gave as an especial legacy into heir tenderest keeping. What if the story were true? What if when in a few days Christmas dawns upon us, the Holy Child were actually to enter into the myriad homes of the Christian world? The world is full of heroes whose names are never breathed to fame. The boy who provides for a poor and unfortunate father, who brings home his hard earnings to a widowed mother, who sacrifices the luxuries of youth that he may give the comforts of life to the needy, is a hero, and though his efforts may not be rewarded here, they are written in the book of God.

The boy who makes happy the life of an invalid brother or sister is a hero; yon boy on the street, leading his blind companion, is a hero; the boy who solaces age with affection is a hero; and he above all is a hero who does what he believes to be right, and keeps his conscience pure.

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT.

Around the Christmas-tree we stood,
And watched the children's faces,
As they their little gifts received
With childish airs and graces.
We grown folks had our share of fun
In making wee ones merry,
And laughed to see the juveniles
Kiss 'neath the "holly berry."
Beside me sat sweet Bessie Moore,
A lovely dark eyed maiden,
While near her stood our little Eve,
Her arms with love-gifts laden,
Until around the room she went,
The blue eyed baby, shyly,
And, blushing red, into each lap
Her offerings dropped slyly.

But when to me the darling came
All empty-handed was she,

And when I asked: “Why slight me thus?"

She answered: " Oh, betause we—

We dinna know you tumming here!"
And then with blue eyes shining,
To Bessie's side she went, her arms
Her sister's neck entwining,
"But something I must have," said I.
"My Christmas night to gladden."
A shade of thought the baby's face
Seemed presently to sadden,
Till all at once, with gleeful laugh-
"Oh! I know what I do, sir!
I've only sister Bessie left,

But I'll div her to you, sir!"

Amid the laugh that came from all

I drew my new gift to me,

While with flushed cheeks her eyes met mine,
And sent a thrill all through me.

"Oh! blessed little Eve!" cried I;
"Your gift I welcome gladly! ·
The little one looked up at me,
Half wondering, half sadly.
Then to her father straight I turned,
And humbly asked his blessing
Upon my Christmas gift, the while
My long-stored hopes confessing.
And as his aged hands were raised
Above our heads bowed lowly,
The blessed time of Christmas ne'er
Had seemed to me so Holy.

Our story shall be concerning Christmas in the great city of London; of its kind the greatest city in the world. It was a great city when Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea, yet for centuries it saw not the star that there proclaimed His birth. Since then it has greatly changed. Churches and grand cathedrals have taken the place of its ancient pagan temples. The old city has passed away, all things have become new. But even the new counts its age by centuries.