“Come here, pretty dragon-fly, come and rest on my hand, and let me feel of your gossamer wings, and look into your bright eyes; come, listen to me, and I will tell you a tale—I will—”
But the dragon-fly hears her not—he is looking at a beautiful lily, in whose soft cup he intends to rest awhile—oh! how beautiful it is! and the dragon-fly has lit upon it—the little maid claps her hands for joy, for she is sure of him now; and she stretches out her hand to the lily cup; but ere she could touch it, the pretty creature has flown from the flower, and as it pauses in the air, we can imagine that it says:
“Good-by, little girl, I shall not suffer myself to be caught to-day;” and off he flies, soaring higher and higher into the blue heavens.
MRS. COLMAN.
THE KING OF THE SWANS:
OR DELPHINE THE GOOD.
FROM THE GERMAN.
There was once a little girl, who was called Delphine, so good and cheerful, that she was a favorite with everybody. This good girl had a friend called Hilda, who was also a good girl, and they loved each other dearly.