CRIMSON RAMBLER one day said,
He did n’t like the old homestead;
Thought he ’d travel, so he went
Over the wall on mischief bent.
GRANDDAD SAGE, the dear old man,
Says it is a splendid plan
For all young children to obey;
Says they did so in his day.
NOW LET the banners be unfurled,
To greet the fairest of the world;
Come Roses all, and pay your duty:
Madame the Queen, American Beauty!
GOLDEN-GLOW said “Well, I know
I 'm just going to start and grow.”
Liked it ’way up in the air—
Sent back word he ’d stay up there.
BACHELOR BUTTON, O, most shocking!
Found a hole in his silk stocking;
But he mended it so neatly,
Covered up the place completely.
JOLLY SUNFLOWER, big and yellow,
Said: “I’m sure a lucky fellow.
To be small must seem so queer—
I get a splendid view from here.”
STATELY Lady Hollyhock,
In a lovely colored frock,
Taught her children every day
Precisely what to do and say.
ZINNIA stands so very straight
Just inside the garden gate;
Sometimes single, sometimes double,
Never gives a bit of trouble.
BITTER-SWEET concluded she
Would live with some good, friendly tree;
Went to visit Madame Oak,
Stayed all winter, for a joke.
SAUCY LITTLE Black-eyed Susan,
When her mother caught her snoozin’,
Rubbed her sleepy eyes and said
She guessed she ’d toddle off to bed.
NIGHTSHADE has a purple berry,
But he is very naughty, very;
Little children never should
Play with one who isn’t good.
GENTIAN growing by the brook,
Bending low to get a look
At her pretty face so sweet,
Stepped too near and wet her feet.
SCARLET POPPY in the wheat,
Said she ’d like some grains to eat,
But when Head Wheat gave her some
She made believe 't was chewing-gum.
MULLEIN grew up rough-and-tumble.
He was Irish, very humble;
Still he was a jolly fellow,
With his funny head all yellow.
SIR THISTLE is a Scotchman bluff,
His manners are a trifle rough;
You find him everywhere you go;
He travels on the wind, you know.
WILD CUCUMBER said he guessed,
He ’d take a little trip out West,
Thought he ’d stay a year or two,
And maybe he ’d see something new.
BURDOCK and his family,
With the gardener don’t agree;
But Burdock says if he ’s your friend,
He ’ll stick to you until the end.
CHINA ASTER thought he ’d do
The proper thing, and wear a queue;
But all his brothers laughed and said
He ’d better cut his hair instead.
CHRYSANTHEMUM is Japanese,
She ’s a fine lady, if you please;
She comes to see us once a year,
About the time Thanksgiving ’s here.
POISON IVY did n't know
Why every one disliked her so;
Made her feel so very sad
When people said she was so bad.
IN A SWEET velvet dress of red,
On Christmas Eve, Poinsettia said:
“I ’ll hang my stocking up because
This is the night for Santa Claus.”
EVER SEE a plant so jolly,
And good fellow-ish as Holly?
Makes no difference what’s the weather,
He and Christmas come together.