The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-08
THE LITTLE FOLKS.
Bram's Resolutions.

AAAA Akk HE EVLASn
Bram.s Resolutions.
NEW YEAR JINGLE.
Twas New Years Eve. Young Bramley sat
In deep reelection bowed
he held paper in his hand,
From which he read aloud:
q ], Brandy White. hereby resolre
1he eonsissg year 10 be
From all ~ my accustomed faults
And eUit habits free;
10 caro- my angry passions in
To sh,tya FroerGstiaatiOn;
To keep nag tongue from sdte ,cords,
And al e1GageTGttoH."
>' Not hard to say, but hard to do"
Said Bramley with sigh,
- wrote the same year ago,
And vowed that would try
To lead . better sort of life,
To pass temptations by;
And yet I've broken each resolve
I'm sure1 don't know why
''' III show you why,D exclaimed voice
In accents sweet and lew.
He turned, and saw an angel form
In garments white snow.
She waved her hand. Lo, wondrous changei
Before them stretched green
SOf broad extent, around W hose edge
lofty fence was seen.
Tall trees aud graceful shurbs were there;
Bright flowers of every hue;
And near al hand jessamlne,
A rose, aud hly grew.
a This park is yours, be on your guard!
Without is many foe.
To all who ask admittance here,
Return the answer-Noi
"a By all Your hopes of happiness.
charge yen to o5eyl"
The angel ssia in solemn tones,
And quickly passed away.
~tI'm not foe. SO let nae in;
can't unlock the gate,'
Exclaimed satcy, boyish voice,
In tones importunate-
Bran glanced around there stood lad
OF Lliputisn size.
Who had rosy. handsome face,
But dark, malignant eyes.
"a No sir" said Bran, "you can't come in :"
'' 1 will ~ returned the lad,
Sf 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 began to frown.
The lad grew more and more enraged.
'' Take that ~ he hercely said,
And hurled an ugly pebble-stone
Direct at Rranniey's head.
The stone fell short, but Bran resolved
The insult to resent
To catch the urchin, and inf1ict
righteous punishment.
So, fun of wrath, he raised the latch,
And op'ning wide the gate,
Pursued, but tried in vain to seize
The saucy reprobate.
"A
ChagriHed and petulant-
To ind within his lovely park
Another occupant:
A sprite, no bigger than mouse,
Who hoped and danced about,
DefFing ali OF Bram's attempts
To lure or drive him out.
Three times our hero caught the sprits
And bore him 70 the gate;
As many times the Eprite escaped,
Enraeed and obstinate.
Determined not 10 be outdone,
Bran still pursued the chase,
And caught the Dimble sprite again;
But, as he tur2ed his face,
BE saw his gentle uonitress
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 10 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
Aad foes within, doubt J"
Bran hung his head his face grew red.
He must equivochte,
Or tell downright lie, he thought,
About die open gate.
At last he spoke "a No ma am" said he,
There are no foes within.''
{There were no toes twas only foe.
That, SURE. was 10 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.
In stammering accents. :" l.
An angry fellow opened that"
(That, sure, was no great Ee)
But ah, that pocket! how it grewi
Poor Bram was filed with dread,
I" No hand save yours could raise that latch"
The angel mildly said.
tf Be warned in time; take my advice,
And shut the gate and bar it;
Bse wicked meddfers Feek the park,
To desecrste and mar If.
with this, she passed from sight and Bran,
DaISa l<1R all hi
Unpocketed the struggling spite
And soundIy boxed his cara.
lana leave these quarters spry.v
Just then came floating through the gate
A gorgeous butterfly.
A perfect beauty, Bramley thought,
And started In pursuit,
The insect led him on and on,
a tiresone, vexing route.
"a ought to shut that gate !; but then.
III do IL by and by,
Thought Bram, as round the park again
He chased the brilliant ny.
At length he ceased his fruitless chase
And sought once more the gate.
Alas rwere vain to close it now:
He'd come an hour too late.
A motley fhrong of ugly tmps
Were crcwding Eercely in.
Their coming flied poor Bramley's heart
with eorroR and chagriD.
They danced upon the flowers and grass,
With wild and savage mirth.
The lily, rose and 5essamfne
They trampied in the earth.
As BrsmIey steod in blank amaze,
His angel friend drew nigh.
She pointed TO the gate and said:
.sBehoId the reason WHY
The wfthored rose, and jessamine.
And lily here portray
The resolutions which you made
Had YOU but guarded yonder gate,
There'd be 40 broken, leaasss stalks
TO sigh and grieve about