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Of flower, leaf and budding vine—
Oh, marvellous to see

How finely wrought the hawthorn leaves,
And ivy; finer yet
The silver-berried mistletoe,
Clove-pink and violet.

But Ursule thinks of how her lad
And she one blithe spring day
Through field and meadow singing went
To gather in the May.

Of how they never reached her home
Till dews began to fall,
And how they found the year's first rose
Beside the garden wall.

The missal hath a golden clasp
Set with a comely stone,
But Ursule while she fingers it
Hopes that when Mass is done

Colin will wait beside the door
To greet her—pretty fool—
Perchance will try to kiss her hand—
Oh, shame on thee, Ursule.


FAIRY SONG
Like a giant dandelion
Shines the sun, so brave and bold
With his thousand narrow rays
Yellower than elfin gold.

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