Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere; You cannot see me coming, You hear my low, sweet humming; For in the starry night, And the glad morning light, I come, quietly creeping everywhere. Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere; - Sarah T. Roberts THE THE GRASS. HE grass has so little to do, – With only butterflies to brood, And stir all day to pretty tunes The breezes fetch along, And hold the sunshine in its lap, And bow to everything; And thread the dews all night, like pearls, And make itself so fine, A duchess were too common And even when it dies, to pass As lowly spices gone to sleep, Or amulets of pine. And then to dwell in sovereign barns, The grass so little has to do, I wish I were the hay! — Emily Dickinson THE CROCUS'S SOLILOQUY. OWN in DOWN my solitude under the snow, Where nothing cheering can reach me Here, without light to see how to grow, I'll trust to Nature to teach me. I will not despair, nor be idle, nor frown, My leaves shall run up, and my roots shall run down, Soon as the frost will get out of my bed, I will peep up with my little bright head, Then from my heart will young petals diverge, I from the darkness of earth will emerge Gayly arrayed in my yellow and green, Many, perhaps, from so simple a flower, -Miss H. F. Gould. L THE VENTURESOME BUDS. AST autumn, when winter was taking We crept half-way out of our cradles; But just then old Winter came roaring He clutched us so with cold fingers We came near to losing our breath. And then growing tenderer towards us, With quaint little buckles of ice. But, an hour ago, a dear bluebird Now we must each meet the springtime -A. C. TH THE TREE. HE Tree's early leaf-buds were bursting their brown: "Shall I take them away?" said the Frost, sweeping down. "No, let them alone Till the blossoms have grown," Prayed the Tree, while it trembled from rootlet to crown. The Tree bore its blossoms and all the birds sung: "Shall I take them away?" said the Wind, as it swung. "No, let them alone Till the berries have grown," Said the Tree, while its leaflets, quivering, hung. The Tree bore its fruit in the midsummer glow: Said the girl, "May I gather thy sweet berries now?" "Yes, all thou canst see: Take them; all are for thee," Said the Tree, while it bent down its laden boughs low. - Björnstjerne Björnson. THE TREE. I LOVE thee when thy swelling buds appear, And one by one their tender leaves unfold, I love to lie beneath thy waving screen, With limbs by summer's heat and toil oppressed, And through thy leafless arms to look above On stars that brighter beam when most we need their love |