46 



December 24th. 



'Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale, 

 'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale ; 



A Christmas gambol oft could cheer 

 The poor man's heart through half the year. 



How happy every one looks in these good 

 Christmas times ! Besides those feelings of 

 gratitude and hope, which now come home to 

 every Christian's breast, it is delightful to see 

 the satisfaction the rich feel in this country in 

 sharing their comforts with the poor. 



I need scarcely tell you, who know my uncle 

 and aunt so well, how much they enjoy the 

 pleasure of giving food and clothing and blankets 

 to those who are in want ; while to the cottagers 

 who do not require such assistance, they make 

 some useful present, such as a book, or some 

 little article, which is sure to be highly valued, 

 as it marks the approbation of their landlord. 

 Of course the Franklins and our old basket- 

 maker have not been forgotten. My aunt says 

 she likes to make the poor more than commonly 

 comfortable now, that they may remember the 

 season with pleasure. 



Farmer Moreland, and two or three other rich 

 farmers in the neighbourhood, are very con- 

 siderate of the comforts of their labouring men 

 at this season ; and they have joined with my 

 uncle and aunt in trying, by giving them constant 

 employment, to enable them to struggle on by 



