Richmond Enquirer

By his

From Alex. Colvin's Messenger.

THE CAUCUS NOMINATION

'Twas on a sunny April day,
When every songster's tuneful lay
Was heard in "wood-notes" wild and strong
From verdant grove, and bower, and lawn;
A day, in short, as poets say,
Each twig was robed in silver spray,
The air was ether, such as floats
Where Angels love to tune their notes;
The Heavens were hung with dazzling blue,
And tinged with every varied hue.

'Twas then the flowers obeyed the call,
Which summoned them to Fairy Hall,
To nominate to Nature's tribe,
One o'er their welfare to preside.
Convened—the Tulip oped the meeting,
To each she gave a welcome greeting,
Spoke of their present state, and cause,
Extolled the beauty of their laws,
Which by elections yearly made
Crushed hurtful projects in the blade;
Denounced intrigue, and hurled her bolts
'Gainst demagogues and meddling dolts;
Proved that all fresh from nature's hands,
Was theirs to obey the wise commands
Which precedents so plainly told,
Were laid by seignors grave and old;
That they should nominate a Queen,
To rule upon the May day green.

She ceased.—The Lilac's blushing cheek,
Told all that she would gladly speak;
She trembled so, as she stood there,
Her fragrance filled the ambient air;
But rallying force, she soon essayed;
And said Amanda was the maid,
Whose laughing eye, and stately mien,
Was made to rule the May day green.

A murmur hereupon was heard,
And soon the Hyacinth appeared;
Begged pardon of the Lilac, said,
She loved alike her heart and head;
But in a case like this, she would
Bear with her folly, if she should
Prefer sweet Anna's form divine,
To fair Amanda's graceful line.

In this much speaking pro and con,
Was heard among the lovely throng.
Each had her own opinion set,
Formed and digested ere they met.
Each thought her candidate the best,
Pre-eminent o'er all the rest
Each party pledged them not to yield,
And all contending for the field
was thus they stood midst high debate
A flowery phalanx, firm as Fate;
When from among the bustling crowd,
Was heard a voice not harsh or loud,
But 'twas so soft, they thought the breeze
Had only shook the verdant trees;
Each gazed upon the spot from whence
The voice appeared to strike the sense;
But naught they saw till Zephyr's wing,
Swept o'er the rose the breath of Spring.
And brought the Poet out to sight
Half dead with terror and affright.

Observing that her lowly station
Precluded envy's vile temptation.
She gently chid her sister flowers,
For thus consuming precious hours
When each one knew that life was frail,
And short lived as a lover's tale:
Disputing who should be the Queen
To grace the May day feast and green,
When yet a fairer form and face,
Than Anna or Amanda's grace,
Was blended with as fine a mien
As e'er tripped a May-day Queen,
And oh! her eye, she said, displayed
More than can e'er be penned or said,
And gave her face such beauty's meed,
Would not disgrace a cherub's cheek.

With disposition pure and bland.
Ne'er was joined by Hymen's band.
Her voice was softest "music sent."
From "Reason's governed instrument."
She said that not much known to fame,
Helen was this fair maiden's name.

The showy Wall Flower rose to say,
She owned fair Helen's gentle sway,
And begged that Lilac would agree
To leave the field to Helen, free,
She praised the Lilac's rosy hue
Not that for favors she would sue,
But flattered with so sweet a grace.
That Lilac could not have the face
'Gainst such a suit to urge her claim;
So sacrificed Amanda's name.

The Hyacinth was stern and proud.
She would not bend to receive the crown;
She was a privileged flower, whose rest
Was on the virgin's heaving breast,
She told them with sarcastic sneer
To vote—the result she did not fear.

The "question," "previous question," &c.,
Was heard among the shrubs crowd;
The Crocus caught the stirring strain,
The Primrose sung o'er all the plain,
Narcissus joined the babbling throng
And "Question" echoed loud and long.

The Tulip thereupon arose,
And called for all the "ayes and noes,"
But "viva voce" was heard,
A voice which seldom e'er erred.
And loudly o'er the welkin's swell
Told that the candidate was Helen.