CAPRICE.

I.

She hung the cage at the window;
"If he goes by," she said,
"He will hear my robin singing,
And when he lifts his head,

I shall be sitting here to sew,
And he will bow to me, I know."

The robin sang a love-sweet song, The young man raised his head; The maiden turned away and blushed: "I am a fool!" she said,

And went on broidering in silk

A pink-eyed rabbit, white as milk.

The young man loitered slowly

By the house three times that day; She took her bird from the window: "He need not look this way."

She sat at her piano long,

And sighed, and played a death-sad song.

But when the day was done, she said,

"I wish that he would come!

Remember, Mary, if he calls

To-night-I'm not at home."

So when he rang, she went-the elf!— She went and let him in herself.

CAPRICE.

III.

They sang full long together

Their songs love-sweet, death-sad; The robin woke from his slumber,

And rang out, clear and glad. "Now go!" she coldly said; "'t is late; " And followed him—to latch the gate.

He took the rosebud from her hair,
While, "You shall not!" she said;
He closed her hand within his own,
And while her tongue forbade,
Her will was darkened in the eclipse
Of blinding love upon his lips.

-W. D. Howeiis...