Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-26
-PERsIAN MYTHoLOaY.


They stood before the evening ere
The lQTers 81 little child.
With Whatto meet her hearts desire,
The idle moments they beguiled;
And where the tiny stockings swung
Each consecrated gin they hung.
She sprane up in her trundlo bed.
They thought her fast asleep the while
rs rat ny toeking son 81 said,
And down she sank with weary sm lie.
Poor little Wanderor who trod
Alone the mystic land Of Nod
"ghe's dreaming Of the Santa CIaus.
0 bless the childl' the mother sighed;
The yellow carls like tangled floss.
Floaled along the pillow side.
Sweet Baby IN the drOwGy nest,
With fat hands folded to her breast.
All too soon with the Christ mas chimes.
The child aWoke and drove away
The morning sleep, and laughed hetimea-
It's merry IriEmas' to-day
/" Is eat my tocking'f' glad surprise
This time was in her voice and eyes.
"OIsaw Santa Claus last nightl''
The baby eRne'tly did state;
How did be look7" they asked the sprite
But suddenly she grew sedate-
Aud puzzled much, she could not tell,
Il touldn't see him berry well,
Teasing, they tried to make her say
II he had hornb and hairy paws,
And was be ugly, old and gravy
But this was not her Santa Claus;
Dent talk so much, she would rebel,
Il tOuldn't see so berry well.".
And what the little one had learned,
They knew not from her dreamy lace;
~. - N L.. a
Her eyes had won a deeper grace.
What happened when you saw him Dear?
She looked up with dawning fear
'He was so white, so white as snow,
And big. oh like the sky today
was SO scared Of him you know,
dess l must have ruined away"
And tears had brimmed her eyelids Ger,
They did not ask question more.
She grew As grows the roie complete
v hich opens 10 the grateful air;
And all the praise Of lovers sweet
Fell round herl like an incense rare.
Life was dream, hope, kiss
Oh what happy world was this
Twas many a long year aeone,
The heavenly blue of baby eyes
That stole the color Of the dawn,
Have gained the dusk of evening skies:
riddle stlll unsolved, 'twould seem
Must be the burden Of her dream.
And this Is what has come at last,
Assittng down by Preside low,
A pale, gray shadow Of the past,
She rocksth gently to and fro;
And sees within IN ruddy blaze,
The phantom forms Of other days
Charley, who lowered straight and tail;
Ton snatohinS kissel on the ftlirs;
Ard Hal, the prince among them all,
And James, who loVed the girls In pairs;
Mary 80 ID Fanny, Bees and pet,
With deWy lips and braids Of jet.
The dusky shadows Of the years
Are fitting with the drelight's play;
She smiles, as through a mist Of t.ars,
Impatient at what tears betray.
For one must smile, tho all desire
Sits with the ashes OF the Gre.
But what Il in tho pure. white famel
Christ-child With holy facet
She knows not Why the vision came.
And madea glory ofthe place;
And this Is what Ii seemed 70 say:
why grieve the blessed hours away
20 find some little. lovely one,
With bare and chilled. an bleeding fee
For whom the rise Of Christmas SUI
Sends no glad light along the street.
The sorrow doth not come In vain
That helps 10 bear anOther's painl"
She rose up wondering II indeed
She sinned In selhshness Of grief
IF | can help another's need,
To some sad spirit bring relief,
Divine One, DO Thou me inspirei"
This was the Blessing Of the Fire.
CHRISTMAS, 1888.
kansas City journal,