SKIPPING. A MYSTERY.

ITTLE Children skip, The rope so gaily gripping, Tom and Harry, Jane and Mary, Kate, Diana, Susan, Anna, All are fond of skipping! The Grasshoppers all skip, The early dew-drop sipping, Under, over, Bent and clover, Daisy, sorrel, Without quarrel, All are fond of skipping! The tiny Fairies skip, At midnight softly tripping; Puck and Peri, Never weary, With an antic, Quite romantic, All are fond of skipping! The little Boats they skip, Beside the heavy Shipping, While the squalling Winds are calling, Falling, rising, Rising, falling, All are fond of skipping! The pale Diana skips, The silver billows tipping, With a dancing Lustre glancing To the motion Of the ocean— All are fond of skipping! The little Flounders skip, When they feel the dripping; Scorching, frying, Jumping, trying If there is not Any shying, All are fond of skipping! The very Dogs they skip, While threatened with a whipping, Wheeling, prancing, Learning dancing, To a measure, What a pleasure! All are fond of skipping! The little Fleas they skip, And nightly come a nipping, Lord and Lady, Jude and Thady, In the night So dark and shady— All are fond of skipping! The Autumn Leaves they skip; When blasts the trees are stripping; Bounding, whirling, Sweeping, twirling, And in wanton Mazes curling, All are fond of skipping! The Apparitions skip, Some mortal grievance ripping, Thorough many A crack and cranny, And the keyhole Good as any— Are all fond of skipping! But oh! how Readers skip, In heavy volumes dipping! * * * * * and * * * * * * * * * and * * * * * * * * and * * * * * * * * * * * * * All are fond of skipping!