" The green and graceful fern, 



How beautiful it is. 

 There's not a leaf in all the land, 

 So wonderful, I wis. 



" Have ye e'er watched it budding, 



With each stem and leaf wrapped small, 

 Coiled up within each other 

 Like a round and hairy ball ? 



" Have ye watched that ball unfolding 



Each closely nestling curl 

 Its fair and feathery leaflets 

 Their spreading forms unfurl ? 



" Oh, then most gracefully they wave 



In the forest, like a sea, 

 And dear as they are beautiful 

 Are these fern leaves to me." TWAMLEY. 



