Act 3 — FRAGMENTS.

"I WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR." A happy year, sweet as the breath of flowers: A merry year, glad as the song of birds, A jocund year, gay as brown harvest hours; A prosperous year, rich, as in flocks and herds. THE LIFE-BOAT MAN. When the loud minute gun alarms the night, And plunging waters hide the bark from sight, When lurid lightnings threat, and thunders roll. And roaring tempests daunt the trembling soul— 'Tis thine, O Life-boat Man, such fears to brave, And snatch the drowning from a watery grave. "I am learning the stitch," the lover said As over her work he bent his head. But the scene spake plain to the mother's eye "I am watching these busy fingers ply." And ever anon when a stitch she'd miss, 'Twas because he bent lower her hand to kiss. Oh tender lover, and busy maid, May the sweet enchantment never fade; Nor the thread of life, though a stitch may miss, Know a break that may not be joined by a kiss.