The Butterflys' Ball

The Gnat and the Dragonfly next did each bring His friends; then the Wasp came, without his sharp sting. The Cockchafer hummed, as he journeyed along, Some songs he intended to sing to the throng. The sly little Dormouse peeped out of his hole, And led to the feast his blind cousin, the Mole. In fact they all came, as they promised to do, In the picture before you, so plain to the view.

The viands were various; delighted were they; Some honey the Bee brought, to honor the day. Said he, "My dear friends, I am far behind time, But, WORK BEFORE PLAY, is a maxim of mine." The feast now commenced, they ate and they talked Of the news of the day, and the distance they'd walked When the banquet was finished, they said one and all, That Gaffer Grasshopper must open the ball;

Behold him then, bowing politely, advance To ask Madam Butterfly with him to dance. The dancing began, each a partner had got, Excepting the Snail, who said, dance she could not, For, fatigued with the distance the length of an ell, She said she must sleep in her own little shell. The party was merry,--and well it might be-- For the Cockchafer sang, and a soft voice had he:

The name of the song I've forgotten completely, And also the words, but they sounded most sweetly. The company, charmed, entreated another, And he favored them, gladly, with "Jack and his brother;" When ended the song, (it was loudly applauded,) The dance, for a time, again pleasure afforded, 'Till slily came on the dark shadows of night, And the Watchmen, the Glowworms, each showed his bright light;

By the aid of their lanterns, each safely reached home; For some from a very great distance had come. Recollect, little readers, the saying is true, And I think, when you read it, you'll all say so too: That "EARLY TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE MAKE ALL BECOME HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE."