Colorado! Oh, what a glorious country! Colorado! Could Nature more beautious be? Colorado! See! Laughing sky is deep violet blue, And rolling prairie is emerald hue, While mountain leaps up from the foot-hill below, Great billow on billow of lily-white snow. Oh, look away to the south! There yawns a canon’s great mouth,-- While out of the hazy distance beyond Behold Pike’s proud peak, so mighty and grand! Then lifting her snowy-white head high up in the West, Like a fond mother o’er offspring asleep on her breast, Madame Lincoln looks down on many a baby-peak’s crest. And joyous ever, rippling, murmuring near, With music most sweet to the ear, We catch the glad, sparkling beam Of our Platte River--muse-haunted stream. _AT LITTLETON “IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMER TIME”_ At Littleton! At fair, auspicious Littleton! Upon a slope that tips it to the setting sun The village stands. Its lanes are spacious, wide, With purling brooks beside. Its grounds are ample, and shade trees, By the cool walks, arch greenly overhead. The cottages by the thick leaves are almost hid. On summer days, in wanton play, the breeze Steals through the boughs, and down the beautious ways The flowers scent the mellow airs, And wavily beside the fount, where the clear water smiles, Chaldea’s willow trails her silky hairs. In pleasing contrast with yon damask rose, How sweetly here the lily blows. Here blissful poppies loll in calm repose, And saucy sun-flowers coquette with the sun At Littleton--at fair, auspicious Littleton! _AT ENGLEWOOD ON AN AFTERNOON IN MAY_ At Englewood--at cool, shady Englewood! At Englewood to-day everything seems bright and good. Here thrifty orchards blossoming lavishly around Scatter their shell-like petals on the ground. Here fragrance-exhaling lilacs scent the breeze, And the wild-birds carol in the trees. Here are fresh, green gardens,--and between, the flash of tiny rills; And, beyond--behold--the everlasting hills! Here crowds of happy people continuously we meet, On the cars and in the street, And a social spirit everywhere Whispers,--“fellow traveler, abandon care”; “Oh, for one afternoon, at least, be gay!” “Enjoy sweet idleness, partner, while you may.” _SEEKING OUR TWO LITTLE BROWN BOYS_ Tell me, oh, my sweetest dove, And ye watchful birdlings in the nest above, Have you not seen our two little Brown boys? Our two little _bad_ Brown boys? They have both run away in quest of new toys And now, now we are seeking--seeking in vain for our boys.