Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/269

 PLEASURE. 2G1

��PLEASURE.

��BY MARY, HELEN BOODEY.

Two brown butterflies, dotted with gold, Swift of wing and fair to behold, Sailed along with pleasure untold

Through a beautiful valley ; Flow'rets bloomed on every side, Bright with beauty and gay with pride, And a shining rill down the mountain side

Tinkled most musically.

On the butterflies' gold the sun shone warm, There was naught to sadden and naught to harm, Life was full of a varied charm,

As they loitered through the valley : Sipping the honey and drinking the dew, Pleased with all that met their view, Earth so green and sky so blue,

Who would not thus dally?

Oh ! this was Fairyland, I ween, And one was king and one was queen Of the fairest realm that ever was seen,

These butterflies brown and golden ; And so they ruled in royal state, Full of the bliss of a happy fate, And kept their kingdom inviolate,

Not dreaming 'twas lightly holden.

But a monster grim, whose name was Change, Looked over the top of the mountain range, And all the scene grew wild and strange ;

Alas ! for the reign of Pleasure ! The sky became one black, black cloud, And the voice of the wind wailed fierce and loud, The weeping mists did weave a shroud,

And Joy had won its measure.

" Alas ! alas ! alas ! " they cry, Saddened King and Queen Butterfly, Drenched and chilled, they will surely die,

Their royal reign is over. A mocking voice seems to cry " Ha! ha! " And the rushing wind bears from afar The secret moan of a falling star,

For Joy is a sad, sad rover.

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