ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 



All at once the dandelion blew three notes upon his trumpet ; 



" Choose ye partners for the dancing, gallant knights and ladies fair; " 

 And the honeysuckle court'sied to the young sweet-breathed clematis, 

 And remarked upon the sweetness of the blossoms in her hair. 



We're the tallest," said the tuberose to the iris, standing nearest, 



" And suppose that now, for instance, I should offer you my heart ? " 

 ' Oh, how sudden," cried the sly thing ; " I am really quite embarrassed 

 Unexpected, but pray do it, just to give the rest a start." 



Then a daisy kissed a pansy, with its jacket brown and yellow, 

 And the crocus led a thistle to a seat beside the rose ; 



And the maybells grouped together, close beside the lady-slipper, 

 And commented on the beauty and the splendor of her clothes. 



' Oh, a market this for beauty," said a jasmine, gently clinging 



To the strong arm of an orange, as a glance on him she threw, 



1 Why, you scarcely would believe it, but I've had this very morning 

 Twenty offers, and declined them, just to promenade with you." 



So in groupings or in couples, led each knight some gentle lady, 



Led some fair companion blushing, past the windrows fresh and green; 



And the sweet rose gave her blessing, and a kiss at times, it may be, 

 To the fairest brides and sweetest, mortal eye hath ever seen. 



Then again the grass it parted, and the sunshine it grew brighter, 

 Till it seemed as if the curtains of high heaven were withdrawn, 



And each flower and bud and blossom pressed some fair one to its bosom, 

 As the bannered train danced gaily 'twixt the windrows on the lawn. 



Oh, the musk-rose was so stately! and so stately was the queen rose ! 



And how sweetly smiled she on me as she whispered in my ear. 

 ' Come again; you know you're welcome; come again, dear, for it may be 

 That our baby buds and blossoms will be christened here next year." 

 ADJUTANT S. H. M. BVERS, Oskaloosa, Iowa. 



A GRAIN OF CORN. 



A GRAIN of corn an infant's hand 

 May plant upon an inch of land, 

 Whence twenty stalks may spring and yield 

 Enough to stock a little field. 



The harvest of that field might then 



Be multiplied to ten times ten, 



Which sown thrice more, would furnish bread 



Wherewith an army might be fed. 



