Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-12-31

Aud near AT hand 1essalnlne,
rose, and lily grew.
'sThis park is yours, be on your guard
Without is many a foe.
To all who ask admittance here,
Return the answer-No!
BY all your hopes of happiness.
charge you to obeyi"
The angel saio in solemn tones,
And quickly passed away.
"Tm not foe, so let me in;
can't unlock the gate,'
Exclaimed a saucy, boyish voice,
In tones importunate.
Bran glanced around there stood a lad
OF Liiputian size,
Who had a rosy, handsome face,
But dark, malignant eyes.
"No sir,- said Bran, "you can't come IN :"
=" will :" returned the lad,
And If you don't unlock the gate,
III make you wish you had"
With this, he seized the iron bars
And tried to break them down.
At which display of impudence
Young Bran began to frown.
The lad grew more and more enraged.
" Take that J" he fercely said,
And hurled an ugly rebble-stone
Direct at Bramieys head.
The stone fell short, but Bran resolved
The insult to resent;
To catch the urchin, and infiict
righteous punishment.
So, fun of wrath, he raised the latch,
And op'njng wide the gate,
Pursued, but tried in vain to seize
The saucy reprobate.
AT length, exhausted, he returned
Chagrined and petulant-
To find within his lovely park
Another occupant:
sprite, no bigger than mouse,
Who hoped aud danced about,
Defying all of BRAINS attempts
To lure or drive him out.
Three times our hero caught the sprits
And bore him to the gate;
As many times the sprite escaped,
Enraged and obstinate.
Determined not 10 be outdone,
Bran still pursued the chase,
And caught the nimb,e sprite again.
Bot, as he turned his face,
He saw his gentle monitress
Approaching near st hand.
What should he say He'd spurned her words
And broken her command,
Afraid to show the wicked spritg,
He thrust him in his pocket,
Then fastened to the open gate,
Resolved to shut aud lock il
But ere he'd travelled half the way,
The nor itress spoke out:
"Ah, how il this An open gate!
And foes within, no Doubt,
Bran hung his head his face grew red.
He must equivocate,
Or tell downright lie, he thought,
About the open gate.
AT last he spoke 81 No ma am, !" said he,
There are no foes Within
There were no foes, twas only foe.
That, sure, was no great sinl.
But here the sprite he held confined
Increased so much in size,
That Bran was sure he'd tumble out
Before her very eyes.
" About the gate.' continued he
In stamRerlng accents, IL
An angry fellow opened that
(That, sure, was no great lie)
But ali, that pocket! how ii grew
Poor Bran was filed with dread,
" No hand save yours could raise that LATCH"
The angel mildly said.
% Be warned in time; take my advice,
And shut the gate and bar it
Else wicked meddlers eek the park,
10 desecrate and mar it."
With this, she passed from sight and Bran,
Relieved of all his fears,
Unprotected the struggling spite
And sOundly boxed his cara.
" Take that you Tartar, you !" said he,
And leave these quarters spry."
Just then came floating through the gate
gorgeous butterfly.
A perfect beauty, Bramley thought
And started in pursuit.
The insect led him on and on,
tiresome, yexing route.
" ought to shut that gate but then.
I'll do it by aud by
Thought Bran, "a round the park again
He chased the brilliant fy
At length he ceased his fruitess chase
And sought once more the gate.
Alas 'twere vain to close il now:
He'd come an hour too late.
motley throng of ugly imps
Were crowding fercely in.
Their coming filled poor Bramley's heart
With sorrow and chagrin.
They danced upon the flowers and grass,
With wild and savage mirth.
The lily, rose and jessamine
They trampled IN the earth.
As Bramley stood in blank amaze,
His angel friend drew Nigh.
She pointed to the gate and said:
behold the reason why.
The withered rose, and jessamine,
And lily here portray
The resolutions which you made
year ago to-day!
Had you but guarded yonder gate,
And Kept all foes without,
There'd be no broken. leafiess stalks
To sigh and grieve about"