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Columbus Day

Columbus made four voyages to the western world, but never touched the mainland of North America. Every time he returned to Spain, the people said, "He brings home no gold. Of what use are all his discoveries?"

Hallowe'en

In olden times the Druids kept Hallowe'en as a harvest festival. At first it was religious, but finally the simple country people began to believe that witches and evil spirits visited the earth, and they used all sorts of charms against them.

Election Day

The rich is level with the poor,
The weak is strong to-day;

And sleekest broadcloth counts no more

Than homespun frock of gray.

JOHN G. WHITTIER.

Thanksgiving Day

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name; for the Lord

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is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

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I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.

New Year's Day

This is the New Year, darlings;
A year for work and play,

For doing our best, and for trusting the rest

To the Maker of night and day.

MARGARET SANGSTER.

Lincoln's Birthday1

Oh, slow to smite and swift to spare,

Gentle and merciful and just!

Who in the fear of God, didst bear

The sword of power, - a nation's trust.

WILLIAM C. BRYANT.

1 Reprinted from Bryant's "Complete Poems," by permission of

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.

St. Valentine's Day

I

pray the

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God make thee beautiful within,

And let thine eyes the good behold

In everything save sin.

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Washington's Birthday1

For this chill season now again
Brings in its annual rounds the morn
When, greatest of the sons of men,
Our glorious Washington was born.

-WILLIAM C. BRYANT.

Arbor Day

From the elm tree's topmost bough,
Hark! the robin's early song!

Telling one and all that now
Merry springtime hastes along.

-WILLIAM W. CALDWELL.

Memorial Day

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!
The thoughts of men shall be
As sentinels to keep

1 Reprinted from Bryant's "Complete Poems." by permission of D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.

Your rest from danger free.
Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers,
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.

Flag Day

The union of lakes, the union of lands,
The union of states none can sever,
The union of hearts, the union of hands,
And the flag of our Union forever.

GEORGE P. MORRIS.

Fourth of July

Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said,

"This is my own, my native land!" Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned As home his footsteps he hath turned, From wandering on a foreign strand!

WALTER SCOTT.

My dear Lena,

Monday.

As my cousins, Ella and Irene, intend to spend their short vacation at our house, I am going to have a few friends for dinner on Thanksgiving Day, and I would like you to join us. If you can come, we shall expect you about one o'clock.

Irene plays the violin very well, and as Ella has a beautiful soprano voice, I am sure we shall have some fine music.

Your sincere friend,

Gertrude Singer.

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