142 ARBOR DAY MANUAL, 



THE MARRIAGE OF THE FLOWERS. 



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T is six," the swallows twittered, "and you're very late in rising 



If you really think of rising on this lovely morn at all 

 For the great red sun is peeping over wood and hill and meadow, 

 And the unmilked cows are lowing in the dimly-lighted stall." 



Oh, ye robins and ye swallows, thought I, throwing back the lattice, 

 Ye are noisy, joyous fellows, and you waken when you will ; 



Then I saw a dainty letter, bound in ribbon-grass and clover, 



That the swallows had left swinging by the narrow window-sill. 



Oh, the dainty, dainty letter, on an orange leaf, or lemon, 



Signed, "Your friend, the Queen of Roses," writ in characters of dew; 

 " You're invited to the garden, there's a good time there at seven, 

 And a place beside the apple-tree has been reserved for you." 



" There'll be matings there, and marriages, of every flower and blossom; 



Cross the brook behind the arbor, and come early, if you can." 

 Oh, my thoughts they all went bounding, and my heart leaped in my bosom, 

 "And how sweetly she composes," I reflected as I ran. 



There she sat, the Queen of Roses, with her virgins all about her, 



While the lilacs and the apple-blooms seemed waiting her command. 



Oh, how lovely, oh, how gracious, she did smile on each new comer; 

 Oh, how sweet she kissed the lilies as she took them by the hand. 



Never had I seen her fairer than she was this happy morning, 



Never knew her breath delicious, half so boundless, half so rare; 



Oh, she seemed a thing of heaven, with the dew upon her bosom, 

 And I wished I were some daffodil, that I might kiss it there. 



All at once the grass rows parted, and the sweetest notes were sounded, 

 There was music, there was odor, there was loving in the air; 



And a hundred joyous gallants, robed in holiday apparel, 



Danced beneath the lilac bushes with a hundred maidens fair. 



There were tulips proud and yellow, with their great green spears beside 

 them ; 



There were lilies grandly bowing to the rose queen as they came ; 

 There were daffodils so stately, scenting all the air of heaven ; 



Joyous buds and sleeping poppies, with their banners all aflame. 



There were pansies robed in purple, marching o'er the apple-blossoms 

 And the foxgloves with their pages tripped coquettishly along; 



And the violets and the daisies, in their bonnets blue and yellow, 

 Joined the marching and parading of th' innumerable throng. 



