````O dear little rill!
````Why don't you keep still!
````I never can cross,
````To that bank of moss,
````With you racing past
````The smooth stones so fast.=
````Are you ever still,
````You swift little rill?
````Don't you sometimes stay
````In cool nooks to play,
````For days or for hours,
````With bees, birds, and flowers?=
````If only I knew,
````I'd come and play too,
````I don't think you'd mind,
````Your voice sounds so kind.
````Who taught you to sing,
````You dear little thing!=
````And now for the moss!
````I 'll toss you a bit,
````You good-natured chit.=
````There! bear it away--
````Since you will not stay--
````And give it, for mo,
````Dear rill, to the sea,--
````The great sea so wide,
````With ships on its tide!=
````Now please don't be rude,
````Though I must intrude,
````And wade fairly through
````Your ruffles so blue.
````How pretty they look,
````You dear little brook!=
````Come on, Snip; don't fear!
````You can't drown in here;
````And, if you do get
````Your dainty toes wet,
````'T will not make you sick:
````So come along, quick!
[Illustration: 0042]
````Thanks, kind little rill!
````Though you can't keep still,
````You did n't get cross.
--Mrs. M. J. TAYLOR.