Flower Children. Gordon Elizabeth

      A flower, a child, and a mother’s heart —

      These three are never so far apart.

      A child, a flower, and a mother’s love —

      This world’s best gifts from the world above.

      SAID CROCUS: “My! this wind is cold!

      Most wish I had not been so bold;

      Here the fields are still all brown;

      Glad I wore my eider-down.”

      TRAILING ARBUTUS, you know,

      Loves to grow beneath the snow.

      Other folks would find it chilly,

      She says that’s absurdly silly.

      EAGER little Daffodil

      Came too soon and got a chill;

      Jack Frost pinched her ear and said,

      “Silly child, go back to bed.”

      HYACINTH, the pretty thing,

      Comes to us in early spring;

      Says she always loves to hear

      Easter bells a-ringing clear.

      LADY TULIP, stately dame,

      From across the ocean came;

      Liked this country very much,

      Although she only spoke in Dutch.

      LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY said

      She guessed she was a sleepy-head;

      But she got up and dressed for town

      In her new green tailored gown.

      PUSSY WILLOW said, “Meow!

      Wish some one would tell me how

      Other kittens get around

      And roll and frolic on the ground.”

      PRIMROSE is the dearest thing —

      She loves to play out doors in spring;

      But if a little child is ill,

      She’s happy on the window sill.

      GRANDFATHER Dandelion had such pretty hair,

      Along came a gust of wind and left his head quite bare;

      Young Dandelion generously offered hint some gold,

      To buy a cap to keep his dear old head from being cold.

      WIND-FLOWER on an April day,

      Came along and said she’d stay;

      Wore her furs snug as you please,

      Said she liked the nice, cool breeze.

      ANEMONES and Bluets grew,

      All the woodland pathway through;

      Came along one day together,

      Didn’t mind the April weather.

      LILAC wears a purple plume,

      Scented with a sweet perfume;

      Very high-born lady she,

      Quite proud of her family tree.

      TRILLIUM said “Why, deary me,

      I’m just as freckled as can be,”

      Her cousin Tiger-Lily said,

      “Well, look at me, I’m almost red.”

      PANSIES like the shaded places;

      With their little friendly faces,

      Always seem to smile and say:

      “How are all the folks to-day?”

      JOHNNIE-JUMP-UP made a bet,

      That he could pass for Violet.