THE ENVIOUS LOBSTER.

A Lobster from the water came,

And saw another, just the same

In form and size; but gayly clad

In scarlet clothing; while she had

No other raiment to her back

Than her old suit of greenish black.

“So ho!” she cried, “‘ t is very fine!

Your dress was yesterday like mine;

And in the mud below the sea,

You lived, a crawling thing, like me.

But now, because you‘ ve come ashore,

You‘ ve grown so proud, that what you wore —

Your strong old suit of bottle-green,

You think improper to be seen.

To tell the truth, I don‘ t see why

You should be better dressed than I.

And I should like a suit of red

As bright as yours, from feet to head.

I think I’ m quite as good as you,

And might be clothed in scarlet, too.”

“Will you be boiled?” her owner said,

“To be arrayed in glowing red?

Come here, my discontented miss,

And hear the scalding kettle hiss!

Will you go in, and there be boiled,

To have your dress, so old and soiled,

Exchanged for one of scarlet hue?”

“Yes,” cried the lobster, “that I‘ ll do,

And twice as much, if needs must be,

To be as gayly clad as she.”

Then, in she made a fatal dive,

And never more was seen alive!

Now, if you ever chance to know

Of one as fond of dress and show

As that vain lobster, and withal

As envious, you‘ ll perhaps recall

To mind her folly, and the plight

In which she reappeared to sight.

She had obtained a bright array,

But for it, thrown herself away!

Her life and death were best untold,

But for the moral they unfold!