Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
return when the winter snows are deep. Then Christmas Day 
is nigh : Christmas Day, that brings scattered members of 
families together, if only for a day or two, to pick up dropped 
threads and thrums, and feel once again the old home-spell, 
which weakens, alas ! as we grow older and more world- 
hardened with our Life’s battle. 
Christmas Day . — -Oh, the joy of the Christmas stocking ! 
Boy carefully selected last night the very largest stocking in 
the house to hang at his bed-head and sanguinely trusted 
that Santa Claus would not fail to fill it. Nor did he, of 
course. Early this morning I heard the wakeful joyous 
chirp over his find of my little Bird in his nest, the nest 
that had been empty so long, where silence that was almost 
felt brooded unbroken day after day. A mild Spring day ; 
it chanced to be Sunday as well as Christmas Day, so there 
was service in our little old Kirk, and we wended our way up 
the brae. In the afternoon Boy and I actually found some 
Pansies in bud— Flower of Love — in the garden, two Violets 
— Choice Flower of Delight — and one Primrose, Harbinger 
of Spring. “ When found, make a note of.” 
“ PATIENCE, THE ANGEL ALL UNKNOWN” 
Patienza, where is he with heart unstirred 
By gentle murmur of thine accents, heard 
Like some small brook in woodland deep and low 
By rustle of thy garments, like a breeze 
That sweetest music wakes amid pine-trees. 
Which of the sons of men who doth not know 
Thine eyes, like stars that in the darkest night 
Shine ever brighter, giving forth more light ? 
Sister to Sorrow and to Hope thou art, 
And when before grim Sorrow Joy hath fled 
Thou comest, Child of Heaven in her stead, 
Whispering of Hope to cheer the drooping heart, 
Thou art not fair, thou canst not in our eyes 
Look fair on earth, but when in Paradise, 
Unveiled beside the gate, we meet with thee, 
Thou wilt be fair, and in thy mobile face, 
The likeness unto Hope we then shall see, 
Which upon earth we were too dull to trace. 
Twelfth Day . — Boy had his usual little tree, and in spite 
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