To a Butterfly

Stay near me—do not take thy flight!A little longer stay in sight!Much converse do I find in Thee,Historian of my Infancy!Float near me; do not yet depart!Dead times revive in thee:Thou bring'st, gay Creature as thou art!A solemn image to my heart,My Father's Family!

Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days,The time, when in our childish plays,My Sister Emmeline and ITogether chased the Butterfly!A very hunter did I rushUpon the prey:—with leaps and springsI followed on from brake to bush;But She, God love her! feared to brushThe dust from off its wings.