HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 59

HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

Of Christmas past, let us iem ember now Only the smile 3, forgetting- all the tears: Only the hopes, forgetting all the fears. Life's way is all too long that we should bow Ban.ea.th the ancient burdens of dead years. Of Christmas- in tJie future, let us speak Only with courage, looking for the best, — Only with hope, leaving to faith the rest! Life's day is all too tehort, that we should seek To dim its brightness at our cwn Behest. And in the present Christmas, let us give All help, from care the suffering to release — All zeal to share our happiness and peace? For life is long enough for love to live, And short enough for bitterness to cease. C. Jelf-Shabpe, in Pall MalT. December, 1901. A CAROL. Given, not lent, And cot withdrawn — once «>nt — This Infant of Mankind, this One Is still the -welcome Son. New every year,' New-born and newly dear, He comes with tidings and a song The ages long, th» ages long. Even as the cold, Keen winter grows not old; As childhood is- so fresh, foreseen, And spring in the familiar green; Sudden, as sw«et. Come the expected feet; All joy is young, and new all art, And He, too, "Whom we have by heart. — Alice Metoeia.

man,"' will perhaps become most famous as the creator of this splendid example of Byzantine architecture. Unfinished as the vast interior of Westminster Cathedral is, and long will be, enough has been done to more than hint at the beauty of the completed designs. Especially is this the case in the carved capitals of the noble columns, "each differing ir. design from every other, in the symbolical panels and curious rope-like tracery over the doors, the pelted panels on the balconies, and tn~e varied mouldings and the quaint waterspouts." Concerning these same columns, too, there is a story to tell, to which my heart goes out in sympathy, for it speaks of the happier times, v*hen art aoid craft meant the same, > and were inseparable. In reading a Greek poem, celebrating the opening of the famous church of S. Sophia at Byzantium, Mr Bentley found references to certain quarries in Thessaly and Eubosa, whence the beautifully-tinted marbles were obtained. That these quarries were now practically unknown, having been closed since the days of Justinian, did not daunt Mr Bentley. Following up his clue, he re-discovered them, had them re-opened, and after an oblivion- of 1400 years; -these quarries once more became the scene of 'busy life andiabour.- - ■ " ' ... 'I Much more might belaid, but' l refrain, lest the subject is not of sufficiently .wide interest. " - • - • j I go from the achievements of man to the marvels of Nature. We" shall "find in this same November number • of the Pall Mall an account of some marvellous falls on the upper reaches of the Parana, in South America, which, rival Niagara both in immensity and beauty. No* words of mine can give you any conception -of