SUPPO

SUPPOSE.

UPPOSE the little cowslip
Should hang its golden cup,
"I'm such a tiny flower,

And say,

I'd better not grow up";

How many a weary traveler

Would miss its fragrant smell;

And many a little child would grieve To lose it from the dell.

Suppose the little breezes,
Upon a summer's day,

Should think themselves too small
To cool the traveler on his way;

Who would not miss the smallest
And softest ones that blow,

And think they made a great mistake,
If they were talking so?

Suppose the little dewdrop

Upon the grass should say,

"What can a little dewdrop do?

I'd better roll away."

The blade on which it rested,

Before the day was done,

Without a drop to moisten it,

Would wither in the sun.

How many deeds of kindness

A little child can do,

Although it has but little strength

And little wisdom, too!

It wants a loving spirit,

Much more than strength, to prove
How many things a child may do

For others by its love.

-Selected.

THE ARBUTUS.

T trailed on a sheltered hillside

as fern,

And the sunbeam's warm kisses fell on it,
Close nestled in coppice and herne!
The faded leaves covered it softly,
But when March passed over its bed,
It wakened affrighted to listen
And raised up its fair little head.
And when our dear April so gentle,

With its warm tears the little face kissed,
It spread out its green leaves above it,
And blushed very sweetly, I wist.
And when I had gone to the hillside
To welcome the springtime so new,
I was led by the delicate fragrance
To the place where the arbutus grew.
O timid and sweet little blossom!
A lesson thou bringest to me-
Though thy life it is fair in beholding,
It is hidden in humility.

-Selected.

R

WISHING.

ING-TING! I wish I were a primrose,

A bright yellow primrose blooming in the spring!
The stooping boughs above me,

The wandering bee to love me,

The fern and moss to creep across,
And the elm-tree for our king!

Nay stay! I wish I were an elm-tree,
A great, lofty elm-tree with green leaves gay!
The winds would set them dancing,

The sun and moonshine glance in,
The birds would house among the boughs,
And ever sweetly sing!

O-no! I wish I were a robin,

A robin or a little wren, everywhere to go;
Through forest, field, or garden,

And ask no leave or pardon,

Till winter comes with icy thumbs
To ruffle up our wings!

Well-tell! Where should I fly to,
Where go to sleep in the dark wood or dell?

Before a day was over,

Home comes the rover,
sweeter this

For mother's kiss,

Than any other thing.

E

-W. Allingham.

Said, "Let us wait for
The sunshiny weather;
Take hold of hands, dears,

And cuddle up together."

– Emily H. Miller.

THE MAYFLOWERS.

AD Mayflower! watched by winter stars,

SAD

And nursed by winter gales,

With petals of the sleeted spars,
And leaves of frozen sails!

What had she in those dreary hours,
Within her ice-rimmed bay,

In common with the wildwood flowers,
The first sweet smiles of May?

Yet, "God be praised!" the Pilgrims said,
Who saw the blossoms peer

Above the brown leaves, dry and dead;
"Behold our Mayflower here!

"God wills it: here our rest shall be,
Our years of wandering o'er,
For us the Mayflower of the sea
Shall spread her sails no more."

O sacred flowers of faith and hope!
As sweetly now as then

Ye bloom on many a birchen slope,
In many a pine-dark glen.