FOR CHILDREN. 59

Till feathers clad the fluttering things,
And the whole group seemed bills and wings.

Unconsciously within her breast,
Where many a brooding fancy lay,
She planned to bear the tiny nest

And chirping choristers away,

In stately cage to tune their throats,
And learn untaught their mother-notes.

One morn, when fairly fledged for flight,
Blithe Lucy, on her visit, found

What seemed a necklace, glittering bright,
T'wined round the nest, twined round and round,
With emeralds, pearls, and saphires set,

Rich as my lady’s coronet.

She stretched her hand to seize the prize,
When up a serpent popped its head,

But glid like wild-fire from her eyes,
Hissing and rustling as it fled ;

She uttered one short, thrilling scream,
Then stood, as startled from a dream.

Her brother Tom who long had known
That something drew her feet that way,
Curious to catch her there alone,

Had followed her that fine May-day ;
Lucy, bewildered by her trance,

Came to herself*at his first glance.

Then in her eyes sprang welcome tears,
They fell as showers in April fall;

He kissed her, coaxed her, soothed her fears
Till she in frankness told him all: