TWO LIVES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 224, 16 May 1872, Page 9

TWO LIVES.

They sat with their. small white feet in the brook, Two country maidens of bea ity rare, Kate, with her bright espiegle look, And blue-eyed Blanche with her golden hair. The air was fragrant with new mown hay, The wild bee wrought with a drowsy hum ; And they chatted the dreamy hours away With girlish plans for the year to come. And she with the eyes of sparkling jet Would be content as a farmer's wife, To shun the follies that wear andfret, For the quiet pleasures of a country life. Then Blanche, with her laughing eyes of blue, Shook down a river of sunny hair That rippled and flowed in golden hue O'er bosom and neck and shoulders bare. "And I," she said, " will live in the town. With lackeys to go or come at call ; And I should be proud if men might crown Me queen of beauty at rout or ball. My husband shall be a millionaire." Ah ! poorly you guess the future life ; On you, with your beauty ripe and rare, Shall fall the lot of the farmer's wife. And red-lipped Kate, with her midnight curls, Shall win the riches for which you pine. Her brow shall glisten with gems and pearls, Her table with plate and costly wine. But- she shall long for the new mown hay, And the gusty shadows on upland leas, And sicken and tire of her splendid way, And sigh for the brooks, and birds, and bees. And you will sneer at your narrow lot, And weary and tire of y ux household cares ;" And each will covet what each has not, And pine for the burden the other bears. Oh ! city dame, and. oh ! farmer's wife — Each from the other too long estranged ; Ye were two jewels of love and life, If but the setting were turned.