Marigold Garden

TO BABY

 
Oh, what shall my blue eyes go see?
Shall it be pretty Quack-Quack to-day?
Or the Peacock upon the Yew Tree?
Or the dear little white Lambs at play?
Say Baby.
For Baby is such a young Petsy,
And Baby is such a sweet Dear.
And Baby is growing quite old now—
She's just getting on for a year.
 

WILLY AND HIS SISTER

 
Willy said to his sister,
"Please may I go with you?"
She said, "You must behave
Very nicely if you do."
 
 
"Please will you take me then
To look at the mill?"
"Yes," she said, "because you are
So very good—I will."
 
 
"The miller he is
So very white and kind;
And sprinkled all over
With the flour they grind.
 
 
"And the big heaps of corn
That lie upon the floor;
He will let me play with those
I am quite sure.
 
 
"I like to hear the wheel
Make such a rushing sound,
And see the pretty water
Go round, and round, and round.
 
 
"So take me to the mill,
For then you shall see
What a very, very good boy
I really mean to be."
 

AT SCHOOL

 
Five little Girls, sitting on a form,
Five little Girls, with lessons to learn,
Five little Girls, who, I'm afraid,
Won't know them a bit when they have to be said.
 
 
For little eyes are given to look
Anywhere else than on their book;
And little thoughts are given to stray
Anywhere—ever so far away.
 

HAPPY DAYS

 
"Are you going next week to see Phillis and Phoebe?
Phillis on Monday will be just fourteen.
She says we shall all have our tea in the garden,
And afterwards have some nice games on the green.
 
 
"I wanted a new frock, but mother said, 'No,'
So I must be content with my old one you see.
But then white is so pretty, and kind Aunt Matilda
Has sent down a beautiful necklace for me."
 
 
"Oh, yes, I am going, and Peggy is going,
And mother is making us new frocks to wear;
I shall have my red sash and my hat with pink ribbons—
I know all the girls will be smart who are there.
 
 
"And then, too, we're going to each take a nosegay—
The larger the better—for Phillis to say
That all her friends love her, and wish her so happy,
And bring her sweet flowers upon her birthday.
 
 
"And won't it be lovely, in beautiful sunshine,
The table spread under the great apple tree,
To see little Phillis—that dear little Phillis—
Look smiling all round as she pours out the tea!"
 

THE LITTLE QUEEN'S COMING

 
With Roses—red Roses,
We'll pelt her with Roses,
And Lilies—white Lilies we'll drop at her feet;
The little Queen's coming,
The people are running—
The people are running to greet and to meet.
Then clash out a welcome,
Let all the bells sound, come,
To give her a welcoming proud and sweet.
How her blue eyes will beam,
And her golden curls gleam,
When the sound of our singing rings down the street.