LITTLE CHILDREN. SPORTING through the forest wide ; On the wide earth are ye known, MARY HOWITT. A FANCY ABOUT A BOY. "Nothing,-less than nothing; and vanity." WE stood beside the window, still- Within the room was sober gloom; I drew him forward to the light, That I might view him plain: The sudden view thrilled my heart through With a delicious pain. I leant his head back o'er my arm, And smoothed his crisped hair— The dear, dear curls, o'er which salt pearls I could have rained out there. I looked beneath his heavy lids, Gayly I spoke: "Could I count back I would not say what ill to-day Had chanced this heart of mine." He laughed-all laughed-I most of all; But I was glad, I ween, That the whole room lay in such gloom His face alone was seen. He talked to me in schoolboy phrase; I mind not what; my sense was nought, I could not kiss him as a child; I only touched his hair; Or with my hand his broad brow spanned, But not that it was fair. He strange to me, as I to him— We never met before; Yet I would fain brave mickle pain ANONYMOUS. I've scratched it so, and all in vain. Save when at noon his paunch grew mutinous For a plate of turtle, green and glutinous,) And in did come the strangest figure! Quoth one: "It's as my great-grandsire, ""Tis clear," cried they, "our Mayor's a Starting up at the Trump of Doom's tone, noddy; And as for our Corporation-shocking To think we buy gowns lined with ermine For dolts that can't or won't determine What's best to rid us of our vermin! You hope, because you 're old and obese, To find in the furry civic robe ease? Rouse up, Sirs! Give your brains a racking To find the remedy we're lacking, Or, sure as fate, we'll send you packing!" At this the Mayor and Corporation Quaked with a mighty consternation. IV. An hour they sate in counsel At length the Mayor broke silence : "For a guilder I'd my ermine gown sell; I wish I were a mile hence! It's easy to bid one rack one's brainI'm sure my poor head aches again, Had walked this way from his painted tombstone!" VI. He advanced to the council-table: By means of a secret charm, to draw And I chiefly use my charm On creatures that do people harm The mole, and toad, and newt, and viper And people call me the Pied Piper." To match with his coat of the self same check; And at the scarf's end hung a pipe; |