Children of spring

by Edith Matilda Thomas

CHILDREN OF SPRING

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLORS

AND MONOTINT BY

MAUD HUMPHREY

VERSES BY

EDITH M. THOMAS

NEW YORK

Copyright, 1888, by

Frederick A. Stokes & Brother

1888

March and Pussy-willow.

If you ask me why I am laughing so,

I will tell you true.—An hour ago,

As I played on the bank of the silvery creek,

I broke off a branch from the Willow sleek

Oh ho! it was fun to hear and to see

How she fretted and fumed, and scolded me.

She called on the Wind—the Wind came light—

And together they beat me left and right.

But all her lashes and all her whips

Only tickled my cheeks, with her fleecy tips;

She fancied she hurt me—she didn't, you know,—

And that is why I am laughing so!

Edith M. Thomas.

April the Trickster.

Ask me not why April's skies

Every hour show some new weather;

Ask me not why April's eyes

Fill with tears and smiles together.

April's sweet, yet April's shrewd—

You will trust him to your cost!

Though the fields with flowers are strewed,

He may send a nipping frost.

If you put your sunshade on,

With a hail-storm he will greet you;

If your water-proof you don,

To fine weather he will treat you!

Edith M. Thomas.

In the Orchard.

Under the blooming orchard tree,

I hear the little maid May

Singing, "Why can't you stay with me,

Dear blossoms, why can't you stay?

I'll love you true, my whole life through,"

Promises little maid May.

Then I seem to hear the blossoms sigh.

"Sweetheart, it cannot be;

Your brother September will by and by

Seek apples under this tree:

We blossoms all must wither and fall,

Or apples there'll never be !"

Edith M. Thomas.