THE RETURN OF THE SUMMER GIRL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 49, 5 December 1891, Page 648

THE RETURN OF THE SUMMER GIRL.

‘ Brown as a berry ’ —if berries were brown In Uncle Sam’s country—she’s coming to town In bevies and clusters, by twos and by threes, From the mountains and meadows and rivers and seas : In troops that lack only fair pinions to fly To the homes of the angels, as bright as their sky, And as gay as a saddlerock’s favourite pearl, The pride of the nation—our own summer girl ! Her trophies are alpenstock, autumn leaves, fans. And rings, too, that savour of forthcoming banns, And hearts all a-dangle in strings at her belt, And heart-throbs as thrilling as ever were felt; And freckles, mayhap, from the amorous sun, And ‘ love-games ’ at tennis which Cupid half won, And catches as sweet as the songs of a merle— Oh, she’s brought ’em all back, has this gay summer girl. The woods echo still to the bird-notes she learned Down bridle-paths oft by her charger’s hoofs spurned. And the sunsets she wondered at burn in their splendour As fair as when, pondering what fortune might send her, She leaned her soft hand on her cheek to admire The natural arts which Aurora’s cheeks fire. But a glory has passed from the wave’s very curl Since the seashores surrendered our own summer girl. J.P.B.