Christmas Eve.
With holly branch, and ivy bough
And mistletoe is gaily dight
Each homestead, and old Christmas brow
Is crowned with evergreen tonight.
A snowy mantle's on the grass—
Old frozen Winter placed it there.
And trooping to the midnight mass,
Our hearts are filled with holy prayer
To welcome blessed Christmas.
The church is all ablaze with light,
And pious hands have placed there
Festoons of brilliant green and white:
The crib arranged with holy Care,
From God's high altar there ascends
A light, like glory's brightest beam;
The organ's peal, that melting blends
Our souls into blissful dream,
To welcome holy Christmas.
The acolytes and priest arranged—
The "Glorian" breaks on the ear,
The grosser thoughts of earth then fade,
And falls a bliss from holier sphere.
Oh! there are souls so pure and bright
That hear the angel host that sings
His praise, and "peace to men" tonight,
And hear the rustle of their wings,
This holy blessed Christmas.
Then homeward trough the frosty night,
With kindly hearts and eyes aglow;
With spirits buoyant, stepping light,
We crunch the white and frozen snow;
And hands with cordial grasp are pressed,
And laughing voices cheerful greet
each other, and in every breast
A kindred heart doth warmly beat,
To wish "a merry Christmas."
News has just reached us that the Grand Llama of Thibet has broken the awful stillness of the hall of Silence by a sneeze. The Oracle, having been consulted, sentenced him to remain on his knees (sneeze) for one year. This was viâ the Thracian Chers'nese.
Our passage.— We congratulate ourselves on our rapid voyage since leaving England. It is probable that, with the continuance of such weather as we have had for some days, we may arrive in Fremantle on or about the 8th January 1868. The following is the log for the last week, and the number of miles run:—
| 15th Dec. | S 45°5" | E 28.29" | 19th Dec. | S 49°.8. | E 49.25 |
| 16 " | S 48.8 | 34.2 | 20 " | 48.45. | 54.48. |
| 17 " | 48.18. | 39.29. | 21 " | 48.37. | 58.54. |
| 18 " | 48.49. | 44.44. | Total miles: 1426 | ||
To be disposed by Private Treaty the goodwill and interest in the Copyright and Plant of the "Wild Goose," together with a valuable mass of unpublished m.s.s.— Apply to the Editors.
Notice.
Our subscribers are earnestly requested to send in their subscriptions before Christmas. The editors have not the slightest objection to receive them in kind, as they Kinder like such a mode of payment.
Printed and published at this office, No. 6 Mess—"Intermediate Cabin," Ship "Hougoumont," for the editors, Messrs John Flood and J.B. O'Reilly.
Registered for transmission abroad.
