BROKEN!

Observer, Volume IV, Issue 84, 22 April 1882, Page 90

BROKEN!

By a Lady. 'Twas down in a valley by a purling- broofc, A violet bloomed in a shadowy nook ; And the little flower lifted its head, And sighed to itself, '• I'd like to be dead." " What a foolish wish !" sn,id a handsome frog, As he gaily sunned himself on a log ; " You wish you were dead, you poor little flower : Would you not be refreshed by a passiug shower ?" " Ah, no," sighed the floweret, " that would not avail % But do not stay, or my strength may fail ; Pass on, and do not heed my sorrow, For I will be dead before to-morrow! " The log sailed by, and the frog went toe, And said to the violet, " Farewell to you, We'll meet again some other day " — And with that he'd gone away. As soon as the log did disappear, The violet sobbed and dropped a tear ; Then, gathering together her perfume rare, She died. 'Tis the end of the violet fair. A maiden sat pensive, alone in her room, Watching the shadow's darkening gloom ; And she said as she watched the night come on, " By this time to-morrow I shall be gone. ' They say you should live and fight down grief Till Heaven in kindness sends relief j But I cannot do it, howo'er I try, And to me it would be a boon to die." And then she strolled to the sea's calm shore, And heard the water's ceaseless roar ; Then a splash and a plunge, and the maid was dead, And her corpse sank down as a lump of lead 1 The violet and maiden were tired of life, To each it was bat a horrible strife ; And so they died — both stem and heart Were pierced with a rude and ruthless dart. Clara