“Now it is all right again,” said Albert.  “What next?  If the basket will not let me carry it, the basket shall carry me.  That would be fair play.”

So he mounted the basket, as you see, took hold of the handle with his left hand, and cried out, “Get up, sir!” He made believe it was a horse.  “Get up, sir!” he cried.  But the horse would not move.

[Illustration:  Albert VI]

VI.

Albert then began to shake the basket, as if to urge it on.  Ah, me! who would have thought to see it play the gay horse in earnest?  It seemed so gentle!

Who would have thought to see it shy, and kick up, and throw Albert off?  But so it did.  Albert put out both hands to save himself, but he could not keep his seat.  Over he went.

[Illustration:  Albert VII]

VII.

Over went the basket.  Albert, apples, and all rolled down the steps.  “Help!” he cried.  The gardener ran up to see what was the matter.

“Where are my apples?” said he.  “Here!” said Albert, jumping up, for the lucky rogue was not hurt a bit.

UNCLE SAM.

CHRISTMAS.

Words by ALFRED SELWYN.[A]

Music by T. CRAMPTON.

[Illustration:  Music]

1.

  Christmas is coming, ho, ho, and ho, ho! 
  Now bring on your holy and do not move slow;
  We’ll deck the whole house with the branches so green,
  On wall and on picture the leaves shall be seen. 
  Oh! merry the time when we all meet together
  In spite of the cold, the wind, and the weather,
  When grandparents, uncles, and cousins we see,
  All gather’d around the mahogany tree.

2.

  It stands in the hall, the mahogany tree;
  And very nice fruit it will bear, you’ll agree;
  The turkeys and capons, the puddings and pies,
  On Christmas day feed something more than the eyes. 
  The poor and the needy then come to our door,
  And carry off with them a bountiful store
  Of all the good things that we have for ourselves,
  In cupboard and cellar, on table and shelves.

3.

  When dinner is ended, what sound do we hear
  From holly-deck’d parlor ring merry and clear? 
  ’Tis Uncle Tom’s fiddle! the tune is a call
  To all the good people to come to our ball. 
  They come, young and old, and partake of our cheer,
  For old Christmas comes only once in a year! 
  Then hand up the holly, and let us prepare
  The house for the pleasure in which all can share.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote A:  Nursery, Vol.  XXIV.]

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[Illustration:  ADVERTISEMENTS]