FALL PLANT STUDY. 399 



Frolicked and danced, and had their way, 

 Upon the autumn breezes swung, 

 Whispering, all their sports among. 



" Perhaps the great tree will forget, 



And let us stay until the spring, 

 If we all beg, and coax, and fret." 



But the great tree did no such a thing ; 



He smiled to hear their whispering. 



" Come children all, to bed," he cried ; 

 And, ere the leaves could urge their prayer, 



He shook his head, and far and wide, 

 Fluttering and rustling everywhere, 

 Down sped the leaflets through the air. 



I saw them ; on the ground they lay, 

 Gokien and red, a huddled swarm, 



Waiting till one from far away, 



White bedclothes heaped upon her arm, 

 Should come to wrap them safe and warm. 



The great bare tree looked down, and smiled. 

 "Good-night, dear little leaves," he said, 

 And from below each sleepy child 

 Keplied, " Good-night," and murmured, 

 "It is so nice to go to bed." 



SUSAN COOWDGE. 



