know where the cro cus blows? Under the snows; Wide eyed and winsome and daintily fair As waxen exotic, close-tended and rare; Every child knows Where the first crocus blows. Do you know why the crocus grows Under the snows? To tell that the winter is over and gone, And soon bird and blossom will gladden the lawn, And the hedgerows Where the first crocus blows. Do you know when the crocus grows Under the snows? When little ones sleep in their warm downy beds, With mother-hands smoothing their dear curly heads; While the storm goes Where the first crocus blows. Do you know while the crocus grows Under the snows, That One smileth softly and says, "I will send This promise that all stormy times have an end?" So our Lord knows Where the first crocus blows. Reprinted by permission from “ Camp Fire, Memorial Day, and Other by A. C. McClurg & Company. THE SNOWDROP. HE herald of the flowers, Tsent with its small white flag of truce, to plead For its beleagured brethren; suppliantly It prays stern winter to withdraw his troop Of wind and blustering storms, and, having won - Selected. SPRING. (AFTER MELEAGER.) TOW the bright crocus flames, and now Now The slim narcissus takes the rain, And, straying o'er the mountain's brow, The thousand blossoms wax and wane Ye gardens, cast your leafy crown, My Love, whose lips are softer far - Andrew Lang. TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY, ON TURNING ONE DOWN WITH A PLOW. VEE, modest, crimson-tippèd flow'r, WEE Thou's met me in an evil hour, To spare thee now is past my power, 1 Stoure, dust. Alas! it's no thy neebor sweet, When upward springing, blithe, to greet Cauld blew the bitter, biting north Scarce rear'd above the parent earth The flaunting flowers our gardens yield, 3 High sheltering woods and wa's maun shield, But thou, beneath the random bield" O' clod or stane, Adorns the histie stibble-field, There, in thy scanty mantle clad, But now the share uptears thy bed, Such fate to suffering worth is given, To misery's brink, 1 Weet, rain, wetness. 2 Glinted, peeped. 3 Wa's, walls. 4 Random bield, casual shelter. |