Christmas Eve Snow-flakes

f NE Christmas Eve. M Deacon Iïrown as homeward going from tlie town, A Boow-flake felTunon tüi nose. Said he : "Well, I declare ! it iqowi ! f it will only snow all ntght, I will give the cliildrcn such dclight. Ali ! m they'Il think it's jolly fuoj Hut there is many a shiverïng one Will not be glad the snow to see. How many poor there are ! Ah, bm ' n tliere is poorold Widow Burr; 1 ongfat to have remembered her And tried to manage in somc way Tb inakc her happy Chriatmai i ril do it vet! 111 send somc coal l'o-inorrow morning- yes, indeed - And other things that she may need.'" Anti onward, cheerüy he went, I lis heart aglow with kind intent. lust at that time another ttuke, As big and cold and wide-awake, Feil pluiiip on Farmer Dutttm's eve, As he was looking at the sky, To find what might the prospect be 'i a clear Christmu Day. "As sure's I live, it's goin' to snow ! Don'tknow ;u it's much matter, Ihough. The fowls are comPtable, I guess, They're well penned in' and I confess There hain't nobody round here got A bigger nor a tincr lot Of fowls than I. And Neighbor Glenn- Dont believe he's even got a hen For Christmas dinncr, they're so poor. Now 't wouldn't hurt me tb be sure, To take a turkey over there, And chicken too, or p'raps a pair. 1 reckon inore'u Iikely 'twould Do all of 'em a power of good, 111 do it, sure's I live," said he; "One merry Christmas they shall see," And ofl he went, with eagcrwill, llis kindly purpose to fultill. Another írosty snow-flake feil Upon the hand of bright-eyed Nell, As shc was passing out the doors Of one of the bright, crowded stores. "Ah, snow 1" said she. "Well, let it snow ; I've nol much further now to go." Into her muff her hand she shppcd, And, as she onward gayly tripped, Slie thought : "llow nice a muff to hold And keep one's hands from snow mul cold ' There's Cousin Minnie - she has none. Unclc's too poor to get her one. I wish she had nice things, like me. U !iv, I declare ! J ust let me see! Why could not I ïuy her a mulï ? I think I've money leftenough, 111 buy it now, this very niht, And send it round at morning tlght, lïefore she's fairlyoutof bed. ' And on her erran d kind she sjetl. Whilc boot-black Jimmie stofïped to bat! Some Christmas carols, on his ear A snowtlake feit. Cried he : "llolloa! Hurrahl Hurrah! it's goin to suow ' 1 teil ver that'll be just gay, But there's poor little sister May A lyin' tliere so sick in bed Nhe can't so much as lift her head ; She couldn't see it if't did snow. Too bad ! she allers loved it so. I.ook here I I knowjes what 111 do, As soon as that there singin's throagh, TH t.ike that bit of ev'grcen tree Here in the streel riffht home with me, Anfix it up somewhere real straight; An' don't 1 hope 'twill snow fust-rate All night, an' cover it with snow? An' won't it please her mighty, though, To see me fetchin of it in ? 'Twill niake her chicker than she's been Sence she was took. An' I ileclare, I guess I've got some cash to spare, To buy somethin' uncommon sweet An temptin' likc for her to eat. An' she shall have a christmas too, The same as other peoples do.'1 So, when he'd heard the singing out, His loving plans he went about. Bul oh 1 'twould take a week to teil The good the snow-tlakes, as they fel!, Did all unconsciously achieve, Upon that merry Christmas Eve- What suffering ones they brought to iniiul. What hearts they moved with impulse kintl, What Chains of sclüshness they broke, Whiit Chri-ït-like charity they woke, What tender thoughts they multiplted, What close-shut purses opened witlc; And hearts there wcre tiiat never knew llow much the snow-tlakes had to do With tiieir unwonted happiness. Such power h.tvc little tnlnga to bless.