BIRTHDAY VERSES.

Mayyour path be strewn with roses,Fair and flowery to the end;And when your body in death reposes,May your Maker be your friend.

Mayyour path be strewn with roses,

Fair and flowery to the end;

And when your body in death reposes,

May your Maker be your friend.

Well, ----, I surely would like to please;But can’t think what to say.All your friends have wishes bright,To cheer your life so gay.I will add: May all their wordsBe symbols of love and truth;That when you grow weary, and seek for rest,You will rejoice in the friends of your youth.

Well, ----, I surely would like to please;But can’t think what to say.All your friends have wishes bright,To cheer your life so gay.

Well, ----, I surely would like to please;

But can’t think what to say.

All your friends have wishes bright,

To cheer your life so gay.

I will add: May all their wordsBe symbols of love and truth;That when you grow weary, and seek for rest,You will rejoice in the friends of your youth.

I will add: May all their words

Be symbols of love and truth;

That when you grow weary, and seek for rest,

You will rejoice in the friends of your youth.

Towrite in your Album, dear friend you ask;Ah, well! it is not such a difficult task.All I can say is contained here in one line:May the blessings of Heaven forever be thine.

Towrite in your Album, dear friend you ask;

Ah, well! it is not such a difficult task.

All I can say is contained here in one line:

May the blessings of Heaven forever be thine.

Letnot our friendship be like the rose, to sever;But, like the evergreen, may it last forever.

Letnot our friendship be like the rose, to sever;

But, like the evergreen, may it last forever.

Hewho does good to another, does also good to himself—not only in the act, but in the consciousness of well-doing is his reward.

Inthe evening of life, cherish the remembrance of one who loved thee in its morning.

Speakof me kindly when life’s dreams are o’er;Speak of me gently when I am no more.

Speakof me kindly when life’s dreams are o’er;

Speak of me gently when I am no more.

Safelydown Life’s ebbing tide,May our vessels smoothly glide,And anchor side by side—in heaven.

Safelydown Life’s ebbing tide,

May our vessels smoothly glide,

And anchor side by side—in heaven.

ThatHope and you,Bright days will view.

ThatHope and you,

Bright days will view.

Guardwell thy thoughts; our thoughts are heard in heaven.

MayHe who hath pencilled the leaves with beauty, given the flowers their bloom, and lent music to the lay of the timid bird, graciously remember thee in that day when He shall gather His jewels.

Frommemory’s leaves,I fondly squeezeThree little words—Forget Me Not.

Frommemory’s leaves,

I fondly squeeze

Three little words—

Forget Me Not.

A longlife, and a happy one;A tall man, and a jolly one—Like—well—you know who!

A longlife, and a happy one;

A tall man, and a jolly one—

Like—well—you know who!

Thehills are shadows, and they flowFrom form to form, and nothing stands;They melt like mist, the solid lands,Like clouds they shape themselves and go.But in my spirit will I dwell,And dream my dream and hold it true;For though my pen doth write adieu,I cannot say for aye farewell.

Thehills are shadows, and they flowFrom form to form, and nothing stands;They melt like mist, the solid lands,Like clouds they shape themselves and go.

Thehills are shadows, and they flow

From form to form, and nothing stands;

They melt like mist, the solid lands,

Like clouds they shape themselves and go.

But in my spirit will I dwell,And dream my dream and hold it true;For though my pen doth write adieu,I cannot say for aye farewell.

But in my spirit will I dwell,

And dream my dream and hold it true;

For though my pen doth write adieu,

I cannot say for aye farewell.

God’slove and peace be with thee, whenSoe’r this soft Autumnal airLifts the dark tresses of thy hair.Thou lack’st not friendship’s spellword, norThe half-unconscious power to drawAll hearts to thine by Love’s sweet law.With such a prayer, on this sweet day,As thou mayest hear and I may say,I greet thee, dearest, far away.

God’slove and peace be with thee, whenSoe’r this soft Autumnal airLifts the dark tresses of thy hair.

God’slove and peace be with thee, when

Soe’r this soft Autumnal air

Lifts the dark tresses of thy hair.

Thou lack’st not friendship’s spellword, norThe half-unconscious power to drawAll hearts to thine by Love’s sweet law.

Thou lack’st not friendship’s spellword, nor

The half-unconscious power to draw

All hearts to thine by Love’s sweet law.

With such a prayer, on this sweet day,As thou mayest hear and I may say,I greet thee, dearest, far away.

With such a prayer, on this sweet day,

As thou mayest hear and I may say,

I greet thee, dearest, far away.

ThisAlbum’s a mansion which offers its best,To the friends who have written their thoughts,And the banquet is spread with festal fare,Where guests mingle enjoyment with rest;And they leave their memorials under thy roof,Sometimes in sorrow, more oft in joy divine,Nor think a single thought quite good enough,To measure its faintest pulse with thine.

ThisAlbum’s a mansion which offers its best,

To the friends who have written their thoughts,

And the banquet is spread with festal fare,

Where guests mingle enjoyment with rest;

And they leave their memorials under thy roof,

Sometimes in sorrow, more oft in joy divine,

Nor think a single thought quite good enough,

To measure its faintest pulse with thine.

BIRTHDAY VERSES.

I wishthee every blessingThat can attend thee here;And may each future birthday proveMy wish to be sincere.

I wishthee every blessing

That can attend thee here;

And may each future birthday prove

My wish to be sincere.

YourBirthday will always be green in the memory of your friends.

Maythese flowers, presented on your birthday, be emblematical of the purity of your life.

Wakeearly this morning,Nor miss the grey dawning;Take this greeting from meAs it goes straight to thee:May joy and gladness e’er be thine;And endless brightness round thee shine.

Wakeearly this morning,

Nor miss the grey dawning;

Take this greeting from me

As it goes straight to thee:

May joy and gladness e’er be thine;

And endless brightness round thee shine.

Thisis thy Birthday, may it be,A source of happiness to thee,And may each Birthday yet in store,Be brighter than the one before.

Thisis thy Birthday, may it be,

A source of happiness to thee,

And may each Birthday yet in store,

Be brighter than the one before.

Dearfriend, on this thy natal day,I send to thee a little lay,And wishes tenderAnd only ask that thou’lt repayMy thoughts with thine, and fondly say,“I thank the sender.”May Spring its blossoms round thee strew,And Summer, deck’d in mantle new,Come forth to greet thee;May Autumn fruitage crown the year,And Winter, with its jovial cheer,Bring friends to meet thee.And if I still must absent be,Do not forget to send to meOne kind word only,By home birds passing by the door,Who, flying towards this distant shore,May greet me lonely.

Dearfriend, on this thy natal day,I send to thee a little lay,And wishes tenderAnd only ask that thou’lt repayMy thoughts with thine, and fondly say,“I thank the sender.”

Dearfriend, on this thy natal day,

I send to thee a little lay,

And wishes tender

And only ask that thou’lt repay

My thoughts with thine, and fondly say,

“I thank the sender.”

May Spring its blossoms round thee strew,And Summer, deck’d in mantle new,Come forth to greet thee;May Autumn fruitage crown the year,And Winter, with its jovial cheer,Bring friends to meet thee.

May Spring its blossoms round thee strew,

And Summer, deck’d in mantle new,

Come forth to greet thee;

May Autumn fruitage crown the year,

And Winter, with its jovial cheer,

Bring friends to meet thee.

And if I still must absent be,Do not forget to send to meOne kind word only,By home birds passing by the door,Who, flying towards this distant shore,May greet me lonely.

And if I still must absent be,

Do not forget to send to me

One kind word only,

By home birds passing by the door,

Who, flying towards this distant shore,

May greet me lonely.

Likesunbeams to the drooping flowers,Good-will our lives doth bless;It furthers every wish of ours,And joys in our success.So may its rays towards you flow,That none but friends your heart may know.

Likesunbeams to the drooping flowers,

Good-will our lives doth bless;

It furthers every wish of ours,

And joys in our success.

So may its rays towards you flow,

That none but friends your heart may know.

Inthese days of mirth and glee,What shall my message be to thee?What can I wish for one so blest?Thou sunny bird in a sunny nest!This I wish, and this I pray:May the joys of life never pass away,But only merge in a sigh of bliss—Into a life far brighter than this!

Inthese days of mirth and glee,

What shall my message be to thee?

What can I wish for one so blest?

Thou sunny bird in a sunny nest!

This I wish, and this I pray:

May the joys of life never pass away,

But only merge in a sigh of bliss—

Into a life far brighter than this!

Ifwords could all my wishes say,Oh! how my tongue would talk away.I wish this day and many moreMight on dear ---- blessings pour.May health, wealth, love, and peaceWith each succeeding year increase;And oh! the last, come when it may,Be unto thee a happy day.

Ifwords could all my wishes say,

Oh! how my tongue would talk away.

I wish this day and many more

Might on dear ---- blessings pour.

May health, wealth, love, and peace

With each succeeding year increase;

And oh! the last, come when it may,

Be unto thee a happy day.

Onthis Birthday morn ariseFrom thy placid slumber!Soon to meet love’s longing eyesAnd greetings without number.Heaven’s dearest gifts be thineTo crown all earthly treasure,For gifts that God gives unto theeKnow neither stint or measure.

Onthis Birthday morn arise

From thy placid slumber!

Soon to meet love’s longing eyes

And greetings without number.

Heaven’s dearest gifts be thine

To crown all earthly treasure,

For gifts that God gives unto thee

Know neither stint or measure.

Asbeauteous flowers in garlands intertwine,May Peace and Love to cheer thy heart combine,To give you a very happy Birthday.

Asbeauteous flowers in garlands intertwine,

May Peace and Love to cheer thy heart combine,

To give you a very happy Birthday.

Lovein every bosom live,And the truest pleasure give:And happy smiles each lip adorn,On this happy birthday morn.

Lovein every bosom live,

And the truest pleasure give:

And happy smiles each lip adorn,

On this happy birthday morn.

Littletrouble and still less care,With ever a faithful heart to share;Birthdays many, and happy too,This is the life I wish for you.

Littletrouble and still less care,

With ever a faithful heart to share;

Birthdays many, and happy too,

This is the life I wish for you.

Dear, happy birthdays, how fair ye seem,Along the path of time:Foot-prints whereon sweet-heart flowers blow,By worldly storms unriven,That we may mark them as they go,And find our way to heaven.Brightas a flower may thy Birthday be.

Dear, happy birthdays, how fair ye seem,

Along the path of time:

Foot-prints whereon sweet-heart flowers blow,

By worldly storms unriven,

That we may mark them as they go,

And find our way to heaven.

Brightas a flower may thy Birthday be.

Truelove shall live thro’ sorrow’s wintry storm,And bloom afresh on this glad Birthday morn.

Truelove shall live thro’ sorrow’s wintry storm,

And bloom afresh on this glad Birthday morn.

Lovinglytake this birthday souvenir,And for my sake esteem it dear!

Lovinglytake this birthday souvenir,

And for my sake esteem it dear!

Maythe morning of thy birth break in gladness, and the day teem with light-hearted mirth that shall last always!

HUMOROUS.

I dipmy pen into the ink,And grasp your album tight;But for my life I cannot thinkOne single word to write.

I dipmy pen into the ink,

And grasp your album tight;

But for my life I cannot think

One single word to write.

Inthe storms of life,When you need an umbrella,May you have to uphold itA handsome young fellow.

Inthe storms of life,

When you need an umbrella,

May you have to uphold it

A handsome young fellow.

Maybeauty and truth,Keep you in youth;Green tea and sage,Preserve your old age.

Maybeauty and truth,

Keep you in youth;

Green tea and sage,

Preserve your old age.

Somepeople can be very funny;I never could be so.So I’ll just inscribe my name;It’s the funniest thing I know.

Somepeople can be very funny;

I never could be so.

So I’ll just inscribe my name;

It’s the funniest thing I know.

Fee simpleand simple fee,And all the fees entailAre nothing when compared to thee—Thou best of fees—fe-male.

Fee simpleand simple fee,

And all the fees entail

Are nothing when compared to thee—

Thou best of fees—fe-male.

What!write in your album, for critics to spy,For the learned to laugh at?—No, not I!

What!write in your album, for critics to spy,

For the learned to laugh at?—No, not I!

Acceptmy valued friendship,And roll it up in cotton,And think it not illusion,Because so easily gotten.

Acceptmy valued friendship,

And roll it up in cotton,

And think it not illusion,

Because so easily gotten.

Withsoeveris this for why?Wherefore. Ain’t it?

Withsoeveris this for why?

Wherefore. Ain’t it?

WhenI, poor elf, shall have vanished in vapor,May still my memory live—on paper.

WhenI, poor elf, shall have vanished in vapor,

May still my memory live—on paper.

Roundwent the book, and here it came,In it for me to write my name;I would write better, if I could,But nature said I never should.

Roundwent the book, and here it came,

In it for me to write my name;

I would write better, if I could,

But nature said I never should.

Ifyou wish to laugh;Glance at my autograph.

Ifyou wish to laugh;

Glance at my autograph.

Whenon this page you chance to look,Think of me and close the book.

Whenon this page you chance to look,

Think of me and close the book.

Sailingdown the stream of life,In your little bark canoe,May you have a pleasant trip,With just room enough for two.

Sailingdown the stream of life,

In your little bark canoe,

May you have a pleasant trip,

With just room enough for two.

Dear Friend:—Donot doubt me;You know more about meThan many whose namesHere appear.But to tell them I’ll never—What! never? Hardly ever—What I’d like to write to youHere.’Tisnonsense I’ve written;You’ll think I am smittenWith charms that I holdVery dear.Please excuse me from writing,More lines so inviting,Your time to be spentIdly here.

Dear Friend:—

Donot doubt me;You know more about meThan many whose namesHere appear.But to tell them I’ll never—What! never? Hardly ever—What I’d like to write to youHere.

Donot doubt me;

You know more about me

Than many whose names

Here appear.

But to tell them I’ll never—

What! never? Hardly ever—

What I’d like to write to you

Here.

’Tisnonsense I’ve written;You’ll think I am smittenWith charms that I holdVery dear.Please excuse me from writing,More lines so inviting,Your time to be spentIdly here.

’Tisnonsense I’ve written;

You’ll think I am smitten

With charms that I hold

Very dear.

Please excuse me from writing,

More lines so inviting,

Your time to be spent

Idly here.

I carenot much for gold or land,Give me a mortgage here and there,Some good bank stock—some note of hand,Or trifling railroad share.I only ask that Fortune sendA little more than I can spend.

I carenot much for gold or land,

Give me a mortgage here and there,

Some good bank stock—some note of hand,

Or trifling railroad share.

I only ask that Fortune send

A little more than I can spend.

Man’slove is like Scotch snuff—You take a pinch and that’s enough.Profit by this sage advice,When you fall in love, think twice.

Man’slove is like Scotch snuff—

You take a pinch and that’s enough.

Profit by this sage advice,

When you fall in love, think twice.

Longmay you live,Happy may you be,When you get marriedCome and see me.

Longmay you live,

Happy may you be,

When you get married

Come and see me.

Mayyou be happy,Each day of your life,Get a good husbandAnd make a good wife.

Mayyou be happy,

Each day of your life,

Get a good husband

And make a good wife.

Assure as comes your wedding day,A broom to you I’ll send;Insunshine, use the brushy part,Instorm, the other end.

Assure as comes your wedding day,

A broom to you I’ll send;

Insunshine, use the brushy part,

Instorm, the other end.

I writein your Album?How very absurd!My mind is at random—

I writein your Album?

How very absurd!

My mind is at random—

Mayyour cheeks retain their dimples,May your heart be just as gay,Until some manly voice shall whisper,“Dearest, will you name the day?”

Mayyour cheeks retain their dimples,

May your heart be just as gay,

Until some manly voice shall whisper,

“Dearest, will you name the day?”

CHRISTMAS and NEW-YEAR VERSES

CHRISTMAS and NEW-YEAR - VERSES

Joyand plenty in the cottage,Peace and feasting in the hall;And the voices of the childrenRing out clear above it all:A merry Christmas!

Joyand plenty in the cottage,

Peace and feasting in the hall;

And the voices of the children

Ring out clear above it all:

A merry Christmas!

AsChristmas offerings meet your eyes,Still closer be sweet friendship’s ties.

AsChristmas offerings meet your eyes,

Still closer be sweet friendship’s ties.

Ringout, ye bells, o’er all the earth,To tell with brazen voice,The tidings of the Saviour’s birthAnd bid mankind rejoice.

Ringout, ye bells, o’er all the earth,

To tell with brazen voice,

The tidings of the Saviour’s birth

And bid mankind rejoice.

Truelove shall live thro’ sorrow’s wintry storm,And bloom afresh on this glad Christmas morn.

Truelove shall live thro’ sorrow’s wintry storm,

And bloom afresh on this glad Christmas morn.

Ohjoyous be your Christmas-tide,And bright your New Year, too;To you may love ne’er be denied;May all your friends be true.

Ohjoyous be your Christmas-tide,

And bright your New Year, too;

To you may love ne’er be denied;

May all your friends be true.

OurSaviour Christ was bornThat we might have the Rose without the thorn.All through His desert lifeHe felt the thorns of human sin and strife.His blessed feet were bareTo every hurting brier. He did not spareOne bleeding footstep on the wayHe came to trace for us, until the dayThe cruel crown was pressed upon the BrowThat smiles upon us from His glory now.And so He won for usSweet, thornless, everlasting flowers thus.He bids our desert wayRejoice and blossom as the Rose to-day.There is no hidden thornIn His good gifts of grace. He would adornThe lives that now are His alone,With brightness and beauty all his own.Then praise the Lord who came on Christmas dayTo give the Rose and take the thorns away.

OurSaviour Christ was born

That we might have the Rose without the thorn.

All through His desert life

He felt the thorns of human sin and strife.

His blessed feet were bare

To every hurting brier. He did not spare

One bleeding footstep on the way

He came to trace for us, until the day

The cruel crown was pressed upon the Brow

That smiles upon us from His glory now.

And so He won for usSweet, thornless, everlasting flowers thus.He bids our desert wayRejoice and blossom as the Rose to-day.There is no hidden thornIn His good gifts of grace. He would adornThe lives that now are His alone,With brightness and beauty all his own.Then praise the Lord who came on Christmas dayTo give the Rose and take the thorns away.

And so He won for us

Sweet, thornless, everlasting flowers thus.

He bids our desert way

Rejoice and blossom as the Rose to-day.

There is no hidden thorn

In His good gifts of grace. He would adorn

The lives that now are His alone,

With brightness and beauty all his own.

Then praise the Lord who came on Christmas day

To give the Rose and take the thorns away.

Againthe festive season’s here,With all that can delight and cheer;Oh! may you nothing lack each day,But find fresh blessings strew your way.

Againthe festive season’s here,

With all that can delight and cheer;

Oh! may you nothing lack each day,

But find fresh blessings strew your way.

Ringin, ring in the revelries,And let the feast be oneWhere not a single guest there isBut Innocence and Fun!Let Christmas warmth keep winter out,And joy unbroken reign—From floor to roof-tree send the shoutTill Christmas comes again!

Ringin, ring in the revelries,

And let the feast be one

Where not a single guest there is

But Innocence and Fun!

Let Christmas warmth keep winter out,

And joy unbroken reign—

From floor to roof-tree send the shout

Till Christmas comes again!

A littlebird comes singing,Singing a song to you;He sings of sun-tipped flowers,Bathed in a diamond dew.“The days are coming,” he warbles,“When the frost has flown away,When the earth will be sweet with flowersAnd the breath of new-mown hay.”Oh bird so softly singingYour song of pleasant days,Go sing to her I fondly love,Through the wintry cold and bare.When the heart is light, the days are bright,And the sun seems ever near;So sing her your lay this Christmas Day,And through all the bright New Year.

A littlebird comes singing,

Singing a song to you;

He sings of sun-tipped flowers,

Bathed in a diamond dew.

“The days are coming,” he warbles,

“When the frost has flown away,

When the earth will be sweet with flowers

And the breath of new-mown hay.”

Oh bird so softly singingYour song of pleasant days,Go sing to her I fondly love,Through the wintry cold and bare.When the heart is light, the days are bright,And the sun seems ever near;So sing her your lay this Christmas Day,And through all the bright New Year.

Oh bird so softly singing

Your song of pleasant days,

Go sing to her I fondly love,

Through the wintry cold and bare.

When the heart is light, the days are bright,

And the sun seems ever near;

So sing her your lay this Christmas Day,

And through all the bright New Year.

Oh!may thy Christmas happy be,And naught but joy appear,Is now the wish I send to thee,And all I love most dear.

Oh!may thy Christmas happy be,

And naught but joy appear,

Is now the wish I send to thee,

And all I love most dear.

NowChristmas comes with hearty cheerMay kindly thoughts go round,And bring to you a glad New Year,With peace and plenty crowned.

NowChristmas comes with hearty cheer

May kindly thoughts go round,

And bring to you a glad New Year,

With peace and plenty crowned.

Christmasis coming, and what will it bring?Many a pleasant and gladdening thing!Meetings and greetings, and innocent mirth:All that is brightest and best on the earth.

Christmasis coming, and what will it bring?

Many a pleasant and gladdening thing!

Meetings and greetings, and innocent mirth:

All that is brightest and best on the earth.

Christmascomes, let every heartIn Christmas customs bear its part:The “old” be “young,” the sad be gay,And smiles chase every care away.

Christmascomes, let every heart

In Christmas customs bear its part:

The “old” be “young,” the sad be gay,

And smiles chase every care away.

Sure, Christmas is a happy timeIn spite of wintry weather,For laugh, and song, and jest go roundWhen dear friends meet together:And hearts are warm, and eyes beam bright.In the ruddy glow of Christmas night!

Sure, Christmas is a happy time

In spite of wintry weather,

For laugh, and song, and jest go round

When dear friends meet together:

And hearts are warm, and eyes beam bright.

In the ruddy glow of Christmas night!

Forfriends we strive to pierceThe future, dense and dark,But not a ray of lightWe see, nor faintest spark;But yet while we have faith to cheer,We trusting wish “A bright New Year.”

Forfriends we strive to pierce

The future, dense and dark,

But not a ray of light

We see, nor faintest spark;

But yet while we have faith to cheer,

We trusting wish “A bright New Year.”

Hark, the pearly air is trembling,Liquid music floats along;Angels, in sweet joy assembling,Thrill the skies with heavenly song.“Peace on Earth,” is their refrain,Oh, be it yours this peace to gain.

Hark, the pearly air is trembling,

Liquid music floats along;

Angels, in sweet joy assembling,

Thrill the skies with heavenly song.

“Peace on Earth,” is their refrain,

Oh, be it yours this peace to gain.

Maypiety with wishes placed above,And steady loyalty and faithful love,Be thy blessings this Christmas-tide.

Maypiety with wishes placed above,

And steady loyalty and faithful love,

Be thy blessings this Christmas-tide.

O lifeis but a riverAnd in our childhood we,But a fair and running streamletAdorned with flowers, see.But as we grow more earnest,The river grows more deep,And where we laughed in childhood,We, older, pause to weep.Each Christmas as it passes,Some change to us doth bring,Yet to our friends the closer,As time creeps on, we cling.

O lifeis but a riverAnd in our childhood we,But a fair and running streamletAdorned with flowers, see.

O lifeis but a river

And in our childhood we,

But a fair and running streamlet

Adorned with flowers, see.

But as we grow more earnest,The river grows more deep,And where we laughed in childhood,We, older, pause to weep.

But as we grow more earnest,

The river grows more deep,

And where we laughed in childhood,

We, older, pause to weep.

Each Christmas as it passes,Some change to us doth bring,Yet to our friends the closer,As time creeps on, we cling.

Each Christmas as it passes,

Some change to us doth bring,

Yet to our friends the closer,

As time creeps on, we cling.

Mayhealth and joy, and peace be thineUpon this Christmas day,And happy faces round thee shineAs plenteous as the flowers in May.

Mayhealth and joy, and peace be thine

Upon this Christmas day,

And happy faces round thee shine

As plenteous as the flowers in May.

O brightbe the daySweet echoes resounding,Love lighting the wayAnd warm hearts surrounding.May the breath of His peaceIn thy spirit remain,Till Christmas revisitsThe round world again!

O brightbe the day

Sweet echoes resounding,

Love lighting the way

And warm hearts surrounding.

May the breath of His peace

In thy spirit remain,

Till Christmas revisits

The round world again!

Letthe New Tear be to youAs a childish playmate new,Stealing suddenly amongApple-boughs that overhung.Greet him half in confidence,Half as ready for defence!Is he come to tease or play?Will he give or take away?Let him come as friend or foe!No New Year can overthrowThis our friendship that has grownFrom the years that now are flown.

Letthe New Tear be to youAs a childish playmate new,Stealing suddenly amongApple-boughs that overhung.

Letthe New Tear be to you

As a childish playmate new,

Stealing suddenly among

Apple-boughs that overhung.

Greet him half in confidence,Half as ready for defence!Is he come to tease or play?Will he give or take away?

Greet him half in confidence,

Half as ready for defence!

Is he come to tease or play?

Will he give or take away?

Let him come as friend or foe!No New Year can overthrowThis our friendship that has grownFrom the years that now are flown.

Let him come as friend or foe!

No New Year can overthrow

This our friendship that has grown

From the years that now are flown.

O childhoodis a golden time,When all the world is bright,When sunshine comes with every morn,Sweet dreams with every night.Were I a fairy, I would giveTo thee a magic kiss,That should ensure for the New Year,As fair a time as this.

O childhoodis a golden time,

When all the world is bright,

When sunshine comes with every morn,

Sweet dreams with every night.

Were I a fairy, I would give

To thee a magic kiss,

That should ensure for the New Year,

As fair a time as this.

Take, my friend, this heartfelt greeting,Happy be thy Christmas day,Faith, and hope, and love here meeting,Speed thee on thy New Year’s way!

Take, my friend, this heartfelt greeting,

Happy be thy Christmas day,

Faith, and hope, and love here meeting,

Speed thee on thy New Year’s way!

I cannottell what thou wilt bring to me,O strange New Year,But tho’ thick darkness shrouds thy days and monthsI will not fear.Why should I fret my heart to know beforeWhat may befall?With this one thought content—I ask no more—God knows it all.

I cannottell what thou wilt bring to me,

O strange New Year,

But tho’ thick darkness shrouds thy days and months

I will not fear.

Why should I fret my heart to know before

What may befall?

With this one thought content—I ask no more—

God knows it all.

Healthand prosperityYour life to cheer,With every blessingFor the bright New Year.

Healthand prosperity

Your life to cheer,

With every blessing

For the bright New Year.

Onthis New Year’s morningMy wishes take their flight,And wing to thee a greetingThat would make all things bright.

Onthis New Year’s morning

My wishes take their flight,

And wing to thee a greeting

That would make all things bright.

Gladlynow it is my pleasure,Joys to wish you, without measure,Happiness and peace attending,With pure heavenly blessings blending.

Gladlynow it is my pleasure,

Joys to wish you, without measure,

Happiness and peace attending,

With pure heavenly blessings blending.

Maythe blessings of the old year follow in the new.

Wecannot look into the future,We cannot tell if the New Year,Will bring us fresh sorrows to mourn o’er,Or bring us new blessings to cheer.But an all-seeing God is above us,Who knows-what for each one is best,Who in this world will care for and love us,And bring us at last to our rest.

Wecannot look into the future,We cannot tell if the New Year,Will bring us fresh sorrows to mourn o’er,Or bring us new blessings to cheer.

Wecannot look into the future,

We cannot tell if the New Year,

Will bring us fresh sorrows to mourn o’er,

Or bring us new blessings to cheer.

But an all-seeing God is above us,Who knows-what for each one is best,Who in this world will care for and love us,And bring us at last to our rest.

But an all-seeing God is above us,

Who knows-what for each one is best,

Who in this world will care for and love us,

And bring us at last to our rest.

A BAD BOY’S DIARY.

This is the most humorous book ever issued from the Press.The One Hundredth Thousandhas just been issued, and the demand for it is still increasing. One editor says of it: “It made us laugh till our sides ached and the tears came.” Another says: “It will drive the blues out of a bag of indigo. It is worth a dollar, but costs only ten cents.” One reader says of it: “I received the Bad Boy’s Diary you sent me, and as most of my family are killed by laughing over it, you may send another copy, so I can dispose of the rest of them in the same happy manner.”

It contains 48 pages and is handsomely illustrated. Sent by mail on receipt of Ten Cents.

DIARY OF A MINISTER’S WIFE.

“It excels Mark Twain for genuine humor.”

This is one of the most humourous books of the present day, showing in a manner pleasing to all readers the trials, tribulations, expectations, and actual experiences of a “minister’s wife” in a country parish. The characters represented are true to life, and will doubtless bring to the mind of the reader remembrances of events and individuals within their own knowledge. It contains 64 pages, with handsome engraved cover. Price Ten Cents.

“A BUSHEL OF FUN,”

gathered from the writings of authors of “A Bad Boy’s Diary.” Josh Billings, Mark Twain, Detroit Free Press Man, Burlington Hawkeye Man, Max Adeler, and other funny men and women.

This is, indeed, a whole bushel of funny things, well shaken down, and running over with fun and good humor. It contains 64 pages, and is handsomely illustrated. Price Ten Cents.

☞ The above books are for sale by Newsdealers and Booksellers. Either of them will be mailed on receipt of price by the Publishers.

Address,

J. S. OGILVIE & CO., Publishers,25 Rose Street, New York.

J. S. OGILVIE & CO., Publishers,

25 Rose Street, New York.

1.Initials used by telegraph operators.

Back to Index Next