<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><div><b>“A Naughty Little Comet” </b>by Ella Wheeler Wilcox</div><div><br></div><div>There was a little comet who lived near the Milky Way!</div><div>She loved to wander out at night and jump about and play.</div><div><br></div><div>The mother of the comet was a very good old star;</div><div>She used to scold her reckless child for venturing out too far.</div><div><br></div><div>She told her of the ogre, Sun, who loved on stars to sup,</div><div>And who asked no better pastime than in gobbling comets up.</div><div><br></div><div>But instead of growing cautious and of showing proper fear,</div><div>The foolish little comet edged up nearer, and more near.</div><div><br></div><div>She switched her saucy tail along right where the Sun could see,</div><div>And flirted with old Mars, and was as bold as bold could be.</div><div><br></div><div>She laughed to scorn the quiet stars who never frisked about;</div><div>She said there was no fun in life unless you ventured out.</div><div><br></div><div>She liked to make the planets stare, and wished no better mirth</div><div>Than just to see the telescopes aimed at her from the Earth.</div><div><br></div><div>She wondered how so many stars could mope through nights and days,</div><div>And let the sickly faced old Moon get all the love and praise.</div><div><br></div><div>And as she talked and tossed her head and switched her shining trail</div><div>The staid old mother star grew sad, her cheek grew wan and pale.</div><div><br></div><div>For she had lived there in the skies a million years or more,</div><div>And she had heard gay comets talk in just this way before.</div><div><br></div><div>And by and by there came an end to this gay comet's fun.</div><div>She went a tiny bit too far-and vanished in the Sun!</div><div><br></div><div>No more she swings her shining trail before the whole world's sight,</div><div>But quiet stars she laughed to scorn are twinkling every night.</div></div><div><br></div>———————————————<br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></body></html>