THE EDELWEISS.

ONE day in far-off Switzerland

I met a maid of beauty rare;

An alpenstock was in her hand,

And Alpine roses in her hair.

I wondering asked the little maid,

So young and fair, "Where goest thou?"

"I seek the Edelweiss," she said,

"That blossoms on the mountain's brow."

Next morn her lifeless form was found

At foot of peak, 'neath snow and ice,

But in her raven tresses bound,

There gleamed the precious Edelweiss.

A. L. H.