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[Newspaper clipping]

TWO POEMS
By Margaret Clarke Russell.

THE NURSERY GRATE
On Halloween, when tea is late,
To sit before the nurs'ry grate
Is what a little child may do
To watch the flames fly up the flue,
Which crackle as they roar so high
And end in smoke towards the sky.

Grown-ups say that flames are red,
But sometimes they are blue instead,
And when for fuel the fire burns low,
So many pictures in the glow
Of smould'ring embers seem to lie,
It's fun to watch them till they die.

Black Cats! Bats! and Bogies tall!
(These need not frighten you at all),
And in a flash a masquerade
Which in a moment more must fade,
Wicked Witches! Goblins old!
And golden Jack o' Lanterns bold!

A COLORED RONDEAU
On Halloween a witch in gold
Rides her broomstick brown and old,
And autumn leaves in amber mound
Turn bronzy bonfires on the ground
A cozy copper in the cold.

Orange pumpkins big and bold,
Rosy Jack o' Lanterns hold,
And apples russet-green abound
On Halloween.

Taffy pulled from tawny mold
To tan and topaz, fold on fold,
Matches yellow flowers found
As favors on the table round
Where Black Cat tales are bravely told
On Halloween.