WINTER EARTH STUDY. 503 



Every tree in a soft fleecy nightgown they clothe ; 



Each part has its night-cap of white. 

 And o'er the cold ground a thick cover they spread 



Before they say good-night. 



And so they come eagerly sliding down, 



With a swift and silent tread, 

 Always as busy as busy can be, 



Putting the world to bed." 



ESTHER W. BUXTON. 



" Little snow-flakes falling lightly, 

 Little snow-flakes falling whitely, 

 Cover up the sleeping flowers, 

 Keep them warm through winter hours. 



Do you know 



Why the snow 

 Is hurrying through the garden so ? 



Just to spread 



A nice soft bed 



For the little sleepy flowers' head, 



To cuddle up the baby ferns, and smooth the lily's sheet, 

 And tuck a warm white blanket down around the roses' feet.' 1 



THE BABY FERNS. 



" Qh! what shall we do the long winter through ? 

 The! baby ferns wept when the mother slept. 

 The wind whistled bleak, the woodland was drear; 

 On each baby cheek there glistened a tear. 



Then down from the clouds, like a flutter of wings, 

 There came a whole crowd of tiny white things, 

 That trooped in a heap where the baby ferns lay, 

 And put them to sleep that bleak winter day. 



Tucked under the snow in their little brown hoods, 

 Not a thing will they know, these babes in the woods, 

 Till some day in spring, when the bobolinks sing, 

 They will open their eyes to the bluest of skies." 



Author not known. 



