370 . John Backman. 



He tried to run the vile blockade, 

 And many desp'rate efforts made, 

 But all in vain, and now he stands, 

 With down-cast eyes and empty hands. 

 A letter then he thinks he'll write, 

 And send it to his friends to-night. 

 To try their little hearts to cheer, 

 With Jiope for better times next i/ear.^^ 



The letter from the Saint was dated : 



Skedaddle-town, Dec. 25th, 1862. 



•' I'm very sad my children dear ! 

 And on this slieet drop many a tear." 



The childrens' Saint however, showed his good 

 will. 



*' I've ask'd my friend, a fairy sprite. 

 To cater for you all to-night ; 

 She's gentle] active, good and kind. 

 And will, to please you, be inclined— 

 I hear that she's been looking round. 

 And many little things has found. 

 Some toys, I think, and nick-nacks, too. 

 And cakes and sweet things not a few. 

 Be merry then, my children dear, 

 Yov Christmas comes hat once a year ; 

 And though you miss your foreign toys, 

 YoiVve friends and more substanticd }oys.^' 



Great pains and ingenuity had been exercised to 

 provide these trifles. Besides cloth-dolls, etc., a 

 cathedral, with a steeple made of pop-corn, excited 

 the wonder and admiration of the children. 



"I'll tell you what the fairy said, 

 'Twas made of moonshine in a night, 

 And though it looks so pure and white. 

 Is bound with spiders' gluey webs. 

 Drawn out in slender subtle threads." 



