Page:All quiet along the Potomac and other poems.djvu/306

 300 THE DRAGON-FLY S QUEST.

That you wear it more worthily, darling, Than I in my weakness have done

That it bring you for ever no sorrow Till the new name of heaven be won.

And this, on the mouth soft and rosy, That God, from the fountain above,

Shall give thee the beautiful blessing Of tender and true human love.

And this, on the pink palm unclosing,

That Great-Heart shall still hold thee fast,

Till, Slough, Hill, and Valley gone over, He shall bring thee to Beulah at last.

��THE DRAGON-FLY S QUEST.

WHAT a shrill little scream, pretty Laura ! Has a dragon leaped up from the lake? I hear but the swish : of the rushes As shoreward our journey we take.&quot;

&quot;Yes, here he is ! There he is ! Yonder !

Now close to the water, now high.&quot; &quot; What, the dragon ?&quot; Yes, no ; see him coming,

Such a terrible blue dragon-fly !&quot;

&quot; What a dear little goose ! May I tell you

The old German apologue fair Of the dragon-fly s search o er the water For the kin he left wondering there ?

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