FLORETTY'S MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION

All seemed delighted, though the elders more,

Of course, than were the children.— Thus, before

Much interchange of mirthful compliment,

The story-teller said his stories “went”

( Like a bad candle ) best when they went out,—

And that some sprightly music, dashed about,

Would wholly quench his “glimmer,” and inspire

Far brighter lights.

And, answering this desire,

The flutist opened, in a rapturous strain

Of rippling notes — a perfect April-rain

Of melody that drenched the senses through;—

Then — gentler — gentler — as the dusk sheds dew,

It fell, by velvety, staccatoed halts,

Swooning away in old “Von Weber's Waltz.”

Then the young ladies sang “Isle of the Sea” —

In ebb and flow and wave so billowy,—

Only with quavering breath and folded eyes

The listeners heard, buoyed on the fall and rise

Of its insistent and exceeding stress

Of sweetness and ecstatic tenderness...

With lifted finger yet, Remembrance — List!—

“Beautiful isle of the sea!” wells in a mist

Of tremulous...

... After much whispering

Among the children, Alex came to bring

Some kind of letter — as it seemed to be —

To Cousin Rufus. This he carelessly

Unfolded — reading to himself alone,—

But, since its contents became, later, known,

And no one “plagued so awful bad,” the same

May here be given — of course without full name,

Fac-simile, or written kink or curl

Or clue. It read:—