The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one;

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water
We gather every day;

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

VIOLETS

57

DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK

ENGLAND, 1826-1887

Violets

Violets, violets, sweet March violets,
Sure as March comes, they'll come too,
First the white and then the blue
Pretty violets!

White, with just a pinky dye,

Blue as little baby's eye,

So like violets.

Though the rough wind shakes the house, Knocks about the budding boughs,

There are violets.

Though the passing snow-storms come,
And the frozen birds sit dumb,

Up spring violets.

One by one among the grass,
Saying "Pluck me!" as we pass,

Scented violets.

5

10

15

5

By and by there'll be so many,
We'll pluck dozens nor miss any:
Sweet, sweet violets!

Children, when you go to play,
Look beneath the hedge to-day:
Mamma likes violets.

10

KATE L. BROWN

AMERICA, 1857

The Little Plant

In the heart of a seed,
Buried deep, so deep!

A dear little plant
Lay fast asleep!

"Wake!" said the sunshine,

And creep to the light!" "Wake!" said the voice

Of the raindrops bright.

THANK YOU, PRETTY COW

The little plant heard

And it rose to see
What the wonderful

Outside world might be!

59

JANE TAYLOR

Thank You, Pretty Cow

Thank you, pretty cow, that made
Pleasant milk to soak my bread

Every day and every night,

Warm, and fresh, and sweet, and white.

Do not chew the hemlock rank,
Growing on the reedy bank;
But the yellow cowslip eat,
That will make it very sweet.

Where the purple violet grows,
Where the bubbling water flows,
Where the grass is fresh and fine,
Pretty cow, go there and dine.

5

10

15

5

10

15

GEORGE MACDONALD

SCOTLAND, 1824

Little White Lily

Little white Lily
Sat by a stone,
Drooping and waiting
Till the sun shone.
Little white Lily
Sunshine has fed;
Little white Lily
Is lifting her head.

Little white Lily
Said, "It is good;
Little white Lily's
Clothing and food.”
Little white Lily

Drest like a bride;
Shining with whiteness,
And crowned beside!