Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Page 10

  Surely your gladness need not be the less for the thought that you will one day see a brighter dawn than this – when lovelier sights will meet your eyes than any waving trees or rippling waters – when angel-hands shall undraw your curtains, and sweeter tones than ever loving Mother breathed shall wake you to a new and glorious day – and when all the sadness, and the sin, that darkened life on this little earth, shall be forgotten like the dreams of a night that is past!

  Your affectionate friend,

  LEWIS CARROLL

  Easter, 1876

  CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

  FROM A FAIRY TO A CHILD

  Lady dear, if Fairies may

   For a moment lay aside

  Cunning tricks and elfish play,

   ‘Tis at happy Christmas-tide.

  We have heard the children say –

   Gentle children, whom we love –

  Long ago, on Christmas Day,

   Came a message from above.

  Still, as Christmas-tide comes round,

   They remember it again –

  Echo still the joyful sound,

   ‘Peace on earth, good-will to men.’

  Yet the hearts must child-like be

   Where such heavenly guests abide.

  Unto children, in their glee,

   All the year is Christmas-tide.

  Thus, forgetting tricks and play

   For a moment, Lady dear,

  We would wish you, if we may,

   Merry Christmas, glad New Year.

  Christmas, 1867