1900 



GIvEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



255 



TWO LITTLE SPRITES. 



BY EUGENE SECOR. 



Capture and bring me the two little sprites 



That haunt every corner of grandmama's house ; 



Dan't let them go till I feel of the mites, 



And hold them as tightly as pussy a mouse. 



Phantoms of airy-like figures flit by, 



With tresses of brown, but wind-tangled all day ; 

 Bright eyes that peep out like stars in the sky, 



And smiles that are sweeter than blossoms in May. 



Marks of their fingers are left on the pane. 



And remnants of rag babies litter the floor ; 



Kitchen and pantry are not sought in vain, 



For good things are always kept somewhere in store. 



The cookies and sweet cakes from grandma's are best, 

 And freedom is valued as though it were bought — 



(Urchins away from the motherl}' nest 



Forget to keep quiet as they have been taught). 



Fairies they are that coiivince one they are 



Real tangible things that appeal to one's mind ; 



Press their impress on dull lives which are far 



Removed from the orbit of their sprightly kind. 



Welcome the amies of these little elves — « 



They carry us back to the days that are gone ; — 



We of the gray beards would like it ourselves 



If time past high noon could be turned back to dawn. 



Life is a poem where childhood's pure song 



Is echoed with laughter from parlor and hall. 



Let the old world and its mad bustling throng 



Move on while these midgets my spirit enthrall. 



