A Christmas Legend: A Poem

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MAXIMILIAN. 129

"And even he can feel the sudden passion of this unreasoning, tropical land.Ah, but he is indeed an emperor! A woman might well die for him. I never saw a kinglier man." And then the Princess Salm-Salm, having made sure that all her honored charges were safe and cared for, prudently extinguished the lights, and turned into her own apartments, to give the day's account to her sleepy lord, the prince of Salm-Salm. (to be concluded in the JANUARY NUMBER.) Salt Lake City, Utah.

A CHRISTMAS LEGEND.

(For the Improvement Era.)

"Summon the lords of the realm to assemble On Christmas morning, in the old cathedral; Let odorous incense burn, and bells be chiming, Our hearts to holy love and peace attuning, And to our good Lord, whose condescension, With sacred, solemn pomp and adoration. We, on this hallowed day, commemorate." "Lords, nobles, attend: draw near the altar, Behold this crystal rock — this mystery.

Which, during mass, did suddenly appear; Imprisoned in its stony grasp, a sword. And see! upon the shining blade is writ. Whoe'er shall wrest this weapon from its sheath Was nobly born and shall be England's King." Then strove they each and all for mastery; With might and main they tugged for royalty; But all in vain, the scabbard would not yield Its awful grip to proud ambition's sway.

Then Merlin brought the gentle Arthur forth A lad of tender years and doubtful birth A lad of innocence and purity, Whose truthful lips no slander ever passed. Whose heart devout, loved God and humankind. Calmly he stood, and these the words he prayed "Dear Lord, thou of the blessed virgin born, Whose birth this gladsome day we celebrate; Show forth thy mighty pow'r for England's good. So shall thy righteous name be glorified." A moment thus, then clasped the jeweled hilt. And lo, the miracle was wrought. Salt Lake City, Utah. Ruth May Fox

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WORSHIP. BY ELDER C. H. CARROLL.

[The writer recently returned from a mission in the Eastern States, having labored in the West Pennsylvania conference. He is at present a student in the Latter-day Saints' University, Salt Lake City. "Worship" may be termed his graduating thesis from the mission field. Editors.]

There is no stronger instinct implanted within man than that which prompts him to worship something. No other impulse has so effected or changed the currents of human thought and action. It has lifted people out of ignorance and slavery, and given them a place among the enlightened nations of the world. Those who have allowed this holy instinct to degenerate into base superstition have lost that moral force which is necessary for the perpetuation of national life. Paul looked upon the great city of Athens and beheld the people's devotions, and **his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry." He observed that in all things they were too superstitious. Their worship was misguided, aad unless it could be changed, the social fabric was sure to decay. Though worship is acknowledged to be one of the most potent factors in shaping the destiny of the race, yet, like other things that we do by instinct,we seldom stop to analyze or define it. Sermon after sermon has been preached, and unnumbered volumes written upon the forms and dogmas that have grown out of the desire to worship, and yet how few have thought what worship is. The word comes from the Saxon, "weoroscipe;" "worth," and "ship;" the state of worthiness or "worthiship, " implying that the object must be more worthy and possess a superior virtue that isappreciated by the worshiper. That is why we