MARCH. 



DafFy-down-dilly came up in the cold, 



Through the brown mould, 

 Although the March breezes blew keen on her face. 

 Although the white snow lay in many a place, 



DafFy-down-dilly had heard underground 



The sweet rushing sound 

 Of the streams, as they burst off their white winter chains, — 

 Of the whistling Spring winds and the pattering rains. 



•' Now then," thought Daffy, deep down in her heart, 



" It's time I should start !" 

 So she pushed her soft leaves through the hard frozen 



ground, 

 Quite up to the surface, and there she looked round. 



There was snow all about her, — grey clouds overhead, — 



The treds all looked dead. 

 Then how do you think Daffy-down-dilly felt. 

 When the sun would not shine and the ice would not melt ? 



" Cold weather '" thought Daffy, still working away : 



" The earth's hard to-day ! 

 There's but a half inch of m)'^ leaves to be seen, 

 And two-thirds of that is more j^ellow than green !" 



(38) 



