250 SELECT POETRY

And, smiling, deck its glossy neck
With forest flowers entwined.

Twas after church—on Ascension day—
When organs ceased to sound,
Wiesbaden’s people crowded gay
The deer-park’s pleasant ground.

Here came a twelve years’ married pair—
And with them wandered free

Seven sons and daughters, blooming fair,
A gladsome sight to see !

Their Wilhelm, little innocent,
The youngest of the seven,

Was beautiful as painters paint
The cherubim of heaven.

By turns he gave his hand, so dear,
- To parent, sister, brother ;
And each, that he was safe and near,
Confided in the other.

But Wilhelm loved the field-flowers bright,
With love beyond all measure ;

And culled them with as keen delight
As misers gather treasure.

Unnoticed, he contrived to glide
Adown a greenwood alley,
By lilies lured—that grew beside
A streamlet in the valley ;
1 And each, &c,—As they wandered along, a scattered band,

each one thought that some other of the party was taking
care of him.