O Mullein, whisper in my ear
And tell me how you grow,
I was the taller of the two
But one short week ago,
And now, as I on tiptoe stand,
Can scarcely reach you with my hand.
You're growing very lovely, too,
In your pale-green velvet gown;
And golden as a daffodil
Are the flowers in your crown.
So tall and stately! Is it true
That all your neighbors envy you?
The Thistle flushed as the maiden spoke,
And thrust out every thorn;
The Wormwood very bitter grew;
And tossed her head in scorn;
The Teazle and the Burdock tried
To pull the maiden's dress aside.
The Mullein kept the secret well,
And the maiden never knew
That she the only object was
Of envy. And 'tis true
That when she left and said Good-bye!
For sadness they made no reply.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
"TOSSED UP IN A BLANKET."
Toss away, toss away,
Low away, high,
Up in a blanket
To visit the sky;
Lightly she'll swing
In the silver moon,
And bring to her sisters
A star pretty soon.
Toss away, toss away,
High away, low,
Rock her to sleep
In the silver bow;
Toss up a kiss to
The man in the moon,
And bring back another
To us very soon.
[Illustration]