"Because I'm _sure_, dear grandpa, _you_
Would only tell the thing that's _true_.

"Are all the butterflies that fly
Real angels of the flowers that die?"
Grandfather's eyes looked far away,
As if he scarce knew what to say.

"Dear little Blossom," stroking now
The golden hair upon her brow,
"I can't--exactly--say--I--know--it;
I only heard it from a poet.

"And poets' eyes see wondrous things.
Great mysteries of flowers and wings,
And marvels of the earth and sea
And sky, they tell us constantly.

"But we can never prove them right,
Because we lack their finer sight;
And they, lest we should think them wrong,
Weave their strange stories into song

"_So beautiful_, so _seeming-true_,
So confidently stated too,
That we, not knowing yes or no,
Can only _hope they may be so_."

"But, grandpapa, no tale should close
With _ifs_ or _buts_ or _may-be-sos_;
So let us play we're poets, too,
And then we'll _know_ that this is true."

THE END

THE WORKS OF WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS

IMPRESSIONS AND EXPERIENCES. 12mo, Cloth, Uncut Edges and Gilt Top,
$1 50.

MY LITERARY PASSIONS. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50.

STOPS OF VARIOUS QUILLS. Poems. Illustrated by HOWARD PYLE. 4to,
Cloth, Ornamental, Uncut Edges and Gilt Top, $2 50.

THE DAY OF THEIR WEDDING. A Story. Illustrated by T. DE THULSTRUP.
12mo, Cloth, $1 25.

A TRAVELER FROM ALTRURIA. A Romance. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50; Paper, 50
cents.

THE COAST OF BOHEMIA. A Novel. Illustrated. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50.

THE WORLD OF CHANCE. A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50; Paper, 60 cents.

THE QUALITY OF MERCY. A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50; Paper, 75 cents.

AN IMPERATIVE DUTY. A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 00; Paper, 50 cents.

A HAZARD OF NEW FORTUNES. A Novel. Two Volumes. 12mo, Cloth, $2 00;
Illustrated, 12mo, Paper, $1 00.

A PARTING AND A MEETING. Illustrated. Square 32mo, Cloth, $1 00.

THE SHADOW OF A DREAM. A Story. 12mo, Cloth, $1 00; Paper, 50
cents.

ANNIE KILBURN. A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50; Paper, 75 cents.

APRIL HOPES. A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50; Paper, 75 cents.

CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY, AND OTHER STORIES. Illustrated. Post 8vo,
Cloth, $1 25.

A BOY'S TOWN. Described for HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. Illustrated.
Post 8vo, Cloth, $1 25.

CRITICISM AND F