Classic Poem

[ A FAIRY TALE .]

Y OU'D call his room a pleasant place:
Satin and rose-wood, lights and lace,
And fruits and vines were there. (Ah, well.)
And yet the rich man rang his bell,
When lo, he saw a fairy flit
From outside dusk to answer it.

Her flower-like eyes, so faint and blue,
Looked at him through her veil of dew;
Though every gracious thing he had,
His face was fretful, tired, and sad: —
" Pray, sir, " she whispered, " did you ring? "
He said: " Yes, I want — everything! "

The fairy laughed and walked away.
Ragged and rosy at his play,
A boy who had the grass, the dew,
Birds, bees, the sun, the stars, like you,
She met: " What do you want? " sighed she.
" Oh! I have everything, " said he.