The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-12-24

To all who ask admittance here,
Return the ansWer-No!
By all your hopes of happiness,
charge you to obey!"
The angel saiu in solemn tones,
And quickly passed away.
I'm not foe, so let me in
can't unlock the gate,"
Exclaimed a saucy, boyish voice,
In tones importunate.
Bran glanced around there stood lad
Of Liliputian size,
Who had rosy handsome face,
But dark, malignant eyes.
"No SIR" said Bran, "you can't come in I"
81 will !" returned the lad,
"And if you don't unlock the gate,
I'll 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 be0an.to frown.
The lad grew more and more enraged.
Take that ]" he fercely said,
And hurled an ugly pebble-stone
Direct at Bramley's head.
The stone fell short, but Bran resolved
The insult to resent;
To catch the urchin, and infict
righteous punishment
So, full of wrath, he raised the latch,
And op'ning 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:
A sprite, no bigger than a mouse,
Who hoped and danced about,
Defying all of Bram's attempts
To lure or drive him out.
Three times our hero caught the sprite
And bore him to the gate;
As many times the sprite escaped,
Enraged aud obstinate.
Determined not to be outdone,
Bran still pursued the chase,
And caught the nimble sprite again;
But, as he turned his face,
He saw his gentle monitress
Approaching near at 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 and lock it
But ere he'd travelled half the way,
The monitress spoke out
All, how is this An open gatei
And foes within, no doubt"
Bran hung his head his face grew red.
He must equivochte,
Or tell downright lie, he thought,
About the open gate.
At last he spoke I" No maam, !" said he,
=" There are no foes Within"
(There were no foes, twas only foe.
That, sure, was no great sin).
But here the sprlte 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 stammering accents, L
An angry fellow opened that"
(That, sure, was no great lie)
But ah that pocket how it 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 Sesk the park,
To 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
A gorgeous butterfly.
perfect beauty, Bramley thought,
And started in pursuit,
The insect led him on and on,
A tiresome, Vexing route.
Ougnt TO smut tnat gate put then,
I'll do it by and by
Thought Bran, az round the park again
He chased the brilliant fly.
at length he ceased his fruitless chase
And sought once more the gate.
Alas 'twere vain to close it now:
He'd come an hour too late.
A motley throng of ugly imps
We're crowding tiercely 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"