[Illustration: DREAMING THE COMING SUMMER]
Oh, lovely days are hasting here, when Summer's tripping feet
Will dance along the clover fields and o'er the golden wheat,
When winds will wander through the rye, and merry brooks shall sing,
And scarlet-vested orioles in cradle nests shall swing.
Then up and down the sunny hills, and o'er the velvet turf,
And where the great waves thunder in to break in foamy surf,
You'll see the little children come, so quick to hear are they
When Summer bids them follow her, and tells them what to play.
She'll show them where the berries ripe are blushing thick and sweet;
She'll lead them where the tangled boughs in fragrant arches meet;
She'll smile when in the shady pool the little fishers dip,
And hush the prattling breezes near with finger on her lip.
What fun to pitch the new-mown hay, and climb the load so high
That proudly lifts the darlings up between the earth and sky!
What joy to build the mimic fort, and pelt it down with sand!
What wealth to fill with buttercups each small despairing hand!
And, oh, to toss the torn straw hat upon the shining curls,
And after Bess and Brindle trot through pastures strung with pearls!
What bliss and what supreme content in afternoons to lie,
And from the hammock watch the clouds like white sails gliding by!
Ah! sweet it is to sit and dream, my little Golden-Hair,
And picture summer's happy days without a single care;
For blither than your gladdest thought the summer-time will be,
That hither comes with tripping feet to reign o'er land and sea.
[Illustration: THE POST-OFFICE BOX.]
The Postmistress would like to hear from each little reader of Our
Post-office Box who has a garden which he or she takes care of without
any help from papa, mamma, or older brothers and sisters. What have you
planted in your gardens? Which flowers are in bloom now? When do you
work in them? What do you do with your buds and blossoms? The pleasure
of having flowers to give away is very great. If you have a little
friend who is ill--too ill to see playmates, or talk, or hear merry
voices--you can show how sorry you are for Jack or Fanny, or whoever it
may be, by leaving a tiny bouquet at the door, with your love. A few
pansies, a rose-bud tied up with a couple of geranium leaves, a bunch of
mignonette or lilies-of-the-valley, do not cost much, but they show your
good-will, and cheer a sick-room with their sweet faces and sweeter
perfume.
Of course you all know what Flower Missions are. There are many
suffering children in hospitals who are made very happy by the gift of
flowers, either daisies and violets from woods and fields, or roses and
lilies from gardens. Some of you, no doubt, send flowers every summer,
that poor, or sad, or sick people in the cities may be comforted by
them.
Now remember, little gardeners, that you are to have your turn, and tell
us all about your successes and your failures.
The vegetable and fruit gardeners may speak too. Let us hear about the
lettuce, the onions, the radishes, and the strawberries. If there are
any little business men or women who earn money of their own by selling
the nice things they raise, they are invited to write and tell us how
they manage their affairs.
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