KATE.
I know one—I wish you knew her,
Dark-eyed, rose-lipped, darling Kate!
Many an eye's bright cynosure,
Many a fond heart's star of fate.
Stately as the lily -blossom,
And as queenly and as fair;
With no sin in her young bosom,
On her brow no shade of care.
Should you see her you would love her;
All who ever knew her do;
But I fear you can not move her
To confess that she loves you.
For the little witch is wicked,
In a pretty, harmless way,
And if you should seem tormented,
Would delight to say you "nay."
Half-a-dozen dimples hover
'Mong the roses on her cheek;
Should she smile, you'll soon discover
How they play at hide-and-seek.
And her smile is just the fleetest,
Brightest, most enchanting smile!
And her merry laugh the sweetest
You will hear in many a mile.
From her pure and child-like forehead
Many a dark-brown silken tress,
Simply and demurely braided,
Still betrays her loveliness.
And the eyelids' long dark lashes
Have a most provoking art,
Drooping when the soft eye flashes
With the truth of her wild heart.
Should she let them smile upon you
With their own peculiar light,
Keep your heaviest armor on you,
For there's mischief in the sprite.
If you have the heart of human,
She will pilfer it away;
And so slyly, how the woman
Got it you could never say.
But with all is Kate the dearest,
Kindest little girl on earth;
With an eye and soul the clearest,
And the softest in their mirth.
Stately as the lily-blossom,
And as queenly and as fair,
With no sin in her young bosom,
On her brow no shade of care.