POOR CATHLEEN'S CHRISTMAS LETTER.

HE pen is in my hand, Dermod, but 'tis badly I can write, For your Cathleen's heart with grief is full this blake December night;

The wind that's soughin' through the glen sounds like a
banshee's wail,

The waves upon the Shannon's breast rise up like spirits pale;
The snow upon the Keeper's head than my cheek is not more white,
The starless sky is not more dark than is my soul to-night;
For hard want is in our cabin, and grim death's not far away,
And sad and lonely here at home will be my Christmas-day.

My father's on his death-bed: he's been bad since Lady-day,
For he could not meet the agent, his half-year's rent to pay;

"The Notice" broke the brave ould heart, that for threescore years and

ten

Was true to Ireland, holy Church, and to his fellow-men.

Thank God, he's had "the sacrament," and his heart is reconciled,
For he knows the Virgin Mother will guard his orphan child;
But oh! 'tis hard, asthore machree, to see him pass away,
And know that I shall be alone this comin' Christmas-day.

But, God be praised, and praised be, too, our holy Mother's name,
I've got his blessin'; for to-night, before the soggarth↑ came,
He called me to his bed-side, and with faint and laboured breath,
"Child of my heart, Cathleen," he said, "I'm sinkin' fast in death.
God's will be done! I'm ould and wake, and could not airn my bread,
But oh, marrone! I grieve to think how you'll be when I'm dead."
"Father," I cried, "don't grieve for me, for sure I'll always pray
For help from Him who for our sakes was born on Christmas-day."

He placed his hands upon my head, and murmured with a sigh,
"Poor have I always been, agra, and poorer still I die:
Nor land, nor stock, nor golden coin have I to lave you now :
I've but my blessin', which you've airned; you've kept the lovin' vow

* A well-known mountain in Clare.

+ Anglice, the priest.

Made to your sainted mother-not to lave me till I died—
Oh, but for that, 'tis long ago you'd be your Dermod's bride!
But tell him when you join him in the land beyond the say
That your dyin' father blessed you on the eve of Christmas-day."

Calm as a babe on its mother's breast, my father's sleepin' now,

But the grave's dark shadow's on his face, and the death-damp on his brow.

He may never spake again, Dermod—the father kind and true,

For whose sake I've borne my own deep grief, and bitter words from

you;

But here beside his death-bed, I thank the good God above

That I never strayed from duty's path, even for your treasured love;
And when you read these tidins' sad, I know your heart will say—
"Thank God, her father blessed her ere he died on Christmas-day !"
And sad and lone as I'm to-night, oh, through my blindin' tears
I seem to see the Christmas-days of those bright bygone years;
When side by side we knelt to hear the midnight Masses sung,
And softly from our warm young hearts our prayers to Heaven sprung ;
And bright as then the altar shone so bright within my heart
Shines the sweet hope of meetin' you, never again to part:

And my soul is filled with thanks to God that though you're far away,
I've still your love to comfort me, this comin' Christmas-day.

God's angels now are waitin' for my father's latest breath,

And the mornin's light may find me here alone with Grief and Death Oh, God forgive me! Not alone-for shure I'll have you left, Although of parents, kindred, friends, and home I'll be bereft !

My vow fulfilled-my sad work done-one task be mine through lifeTo be to you, asthore machree, a faithful, lovin' wife :

And ever in the comin' years to tenderly repay

The love with which you've cheered my heart this dreary Christmas

day!

B

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DR. ROOKE'S

ANTI-LANCET.

WHAT

IS

IT?

A HANDY GUIDE TO DOMESTIC MEDICINE. EVERY HOUSEHOLD SHOULD POSSESS A COPY.

DR. ROOKE'S ANTI-LANCET.

All Invalids should read the Chapter on the Functions of Digestion, showing by what process food is everted into blood-flow blood sustains the whole system-How nervous power influences a the bodily organs to perform their allotted functions--Principles of life and death unfolded-Dying seldom accompanied with pain-Mental vision amplified prior to the death of the bodyImmortality of the intelligent principle.

DR. ROOKE'S ANTI-LANCET.

The Nervous, the Dyspeptic, or the Hypochoadrine, should read the Chapter on the Origin of all Dins ses front depression of nervous or vital Dower-How explained-Producing or exciting Crises of 16 Vous depression-Elects of the mind on the body-Elects of excessive joy--AngerGef and suspense-Sudden surprise and frightHard study Hot relaxing fluids-Intemperauce in eating and drinking-Spirituous liquors-Loss of blood-Iapure air.

DR. ROOKE'S ANTI-LANCET.

Read the Chapter on the Destructive Practice of Bleeding, illustrated by the cases of Lord Byron, Sir Walter Scott, Madame Malibran, Count Cavour, General "Stonewall" Jackson, and other public characters.

DR

R. ROOKE'S ANTI-LANCET. A clergyman, writing to Dr. Rooke, under date, July 15th, 1874, speaking of the "ANTILANCET," says:-"Of its style and matter I can judge, for I have been an author on other themes for thirty years. None but a master-mind among men could have conceived or written your Introduction. It is the most perfect delineation I ever read of the human frame, and the links between the material fabric and the spiritual unison of body and soul."

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