Minnie and Winnie
Slept in a shell.
Sleep, little ladies!
And they slept well.
Pink was the shell within,
Silver without;
Sounds of the great sea
Wandered about.
Sleep little ladies!
Wake not soon!
Echo on echo
Dies to the moon.
Two bright stars
Peep'd into the shell,
What are they dreaming of?
Who can tell?
Started a green linnet
Out of the croft;
Wake, little ladies,
The sun is aloft!
_Lord Tennyson_.