A frolic at Christmas must needs know not change
      Of fortune, or richer or poorer;
    If any one comes who is lonesome and strange,
      Why, just make his welcome the surer.

    We invited our friends and we dressed up the room
      Till it looked like a wonderful bower,
    With starry bright tapers, and flowers in bloom,
      And a tree with white popcorn a-shower.

    And presents and presents, for every one there,
      In stockings, and bags full of candy,
    And old Santa Claus (Uncle William) was fair,
      And—­I tell you, our tree was a dandy.

    Then, when nine o’clock struck, and the frolic and fun
      Had risen almost to their highest,
    And pleasure was beaming, and every one
      Was happy, from bravest to shyest.

    Our dear Mother went to the organ and played
      A carol so sweet and so tender;
    We prayed while we sang, and we sang as we prayed,
      To Jesus, our Prince and Defender.

    Oh!  Jesus, who came as a Babe to the earth,
      Who slept ’mid the kine, in a manger;
    Oh!  Jesus, our Lord, in whose heavenly birth
      Is pledge of our ransom from danger.

    Strong Son of the Father, divine from of old,
      And Son of the race, child of woman;
    Increasing in might as the ages unfold,
      Redeemer, our God, and yet human.

    We sang to His Name, and we stood in a band,
      Each pledged for the Master wholly,
    To work heart to heart, and to work hand to hand,
      In behalf of the outcast and lowly.

    Then we said “Merry Christmas” once more and we went
      Away from the holly and cedar,
    And home we all scattered, quite glad and content,
      And henceforward our Lord is our Leader.

Archie’s Vacation.

BY MARY JOANNA PORTER.

“Papa has come,” shouted Archie Conwood, as he rushed down stairs two steps at a time, with his sisters Minnie and Katy following close behind, and mamma bringing up the rear.  Papa had been to Cousin Faraton’s to see if he could engage summer board for the family.

Cousin Faraton lived in a pleasant village about a hundred miles distant from the city in which Mr. and Mrs. Conwood were living.  They had agreed that to board with him would insure a pleasant vacation for all.

Papa brought a good report.  Everything had been favorably arranged.

“And what do you think!” he asked, in concluding his narrative.  “Cousin Faraton has persuaded me to buy a bicycle for you, Archie.  He thought it would be quite delightful for you and your Cousin Samuel to ride about on their fine roads together.  So I stopped and ordered one on my way home.”

“Oh, you dear, good papa?” exclaimed Archie, “do let me give you a hug.”

“Are you sure it’s healthful exercise?” asked Mrs. Conwood, rather timidly.  After the way of mothers, she was anxious for the health of her son.