A Christmas Tale Of Old England

From Demorest's Moritlily. 'Twas In oíd Kngland, long ago. And merry was the time ; The b.-ils raug o'er tlie dlstant billa. Ín inauy a pleasant cblme; Tlie yuie-log burned upin tlie hearth And througti the huuse were sounds of mlrth. The Squlre was a mirlliful man, And yet at times. 1 ween, A look of ÑiKlness, half subdued, I ' poii hls face was seen ; And OIMO In hls joyous ruood Thls thade of sadness would lntrude. That nlght it was a I 'lirlst tn:is nlglit The guexls were In tlie hall, The holly wlth lta berries luir Was decking every Wall ; And iniisíc from the harp so sweet Made pleasure's round of Joy complete. What made the Squlre turn so palé, As on the Chris raas air There rose without the manor halls A volé,' no sweet and olear ? "Who slngs without ?" the Squlre sald; "Not her, not her, for 1 dead." That qualntold song, heknew lt well ; She sang lt when a chlld - That Klrl, solé daughtc r ot hls house Thatglrl, so wayward, wlldl Who dlwppearod one Christmas nlght Forever from her falher's slght. "Go, brlng the singer In,' he sa d, "I faln would see lier face." The hall door opened. then a form, Stlll wearlng beauty's grace, Walked slowly on, with rtrooplng hend. "My chlld ! " was all the Squlre sald. "Forglve. forglve! " the singer walled. And knelt down at hls foet; The guests, amazed, all gathered round, To bear her to a seat : TheSquire ralsed her, and In tears Said, "Cliild, I've walted many years "To say the word that now you crave, My frlends, the logt Is found, The dove's rmurned ; her weary feet Could üii'l no staudlng ground ; The ark of safety glves her rest." And then he clapsed her lo hls breast. And all the guests crled out In glee, And pressed the Hqulre's hand ; This was tne happiest Chrlstraas night. In England s 'merrie" land. Ah ! would that all who're turned nslde, Would but come home at (yhrlslmaa tldo.