36 NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



The Venturesome Buds 



Last autumn, when Winter was taking 

 His last cozy nap in his bed, 

 And each little leaf bud was sleeping, 

 With blankets pulled over its head, 



We crept halfway out of our cradles; 

 The sun kissed us sadly ; the air 

 Was colder, by far, than we liked it ; 

 The pines whispered softly " Beware !" 



But just then old Winter came roaring 

 And rushing down over the hill : - 

 At the first awful blast of the trumpet 

 Our poor little hearts stood still. 



He clutched us so with cold fingers 

 We nearly were choking to death; 

 And rustled us so with his breezes 

 We came near to losing our breath. 



And then growing tenderer towards us, 

 He made us white hoods, warm and nice, 

 And fastened them under our noses 

 With quaint little buckles of ice. 



But, an hour ago, a dear bluebird 

 Perched here on our trembling spray, 

 And sang, and sang, and sang, and sang, 

 Till he sang old Winter away. 



