Chapter III

All lustred with its halo bright
That picture still appears;
Unfading in its glorious light,
Unscathed by lapse of years.

Oh Day of days! we welcome thee;
Bright beam on history's page!
Thou font of youthful hope and glee;
Halt in our pilgrimage.

Those wreaths of red, and green and white,
Which round our altars cling,
Denote, where faith is moved by sight,
His offering, Whom we sing.

The red, the atoning sacrifice;
The white, our souls made clean;
Whilst life unending in the skies
Is typed by evergreen.

Blest beacon o'er our path below!
Thy story, may't extend;
Till in thy pure and perfect glow,
A heaven and earth shall blend.

CHRISTMAS.

Oh! fair and buoyant Christmas!
Well-spring of childish glee;
Gay jubilance and noisy mirth
Thrill round thy fairy tree.

Oh! roseate flush of Christmas!
Bright vistas crown the day,
When young hearts wake to tenderness
Beneath thy genial ray.

Oh! cheerful, hopeful Christmas!
Rest in the toilsome year;
Thy glory-glimpse illumes the soul;
Earth's cloudlets disappear.

Oh! sweet and tranquil Christmas!
Hours past, and hours to come;
Calm retrospect of vanished joys;
Dear prospect of our home.

Oh! high and holy Christmas!
Unfraught of earthly leaven;
Our spirits chime in angel song,
And near the nearing heaven.

THE SIEGE OF QUEBEC.

THE SIEGE OF QUEBEC.