136 |3opp2. 
PRIDE AND THE POPPIES. THEIR GRANDEUR AND FALL. 
"We little Red-caps are among the corn, 
Merrily dancing at early morn, 
We know that the farmer hates to see 
Our saucy red faces ; but here are we ! 
"We pay no price for our summer coats. 
Like those slavish creatures, barley and oats; 
We don't choose to be ground and eat, 
Like our heavy-head neighbour, GaiFer Wheat. 
" Who dare thrash us, we should like to know ! 
Grind us, and bag us, and use us so ! 
Let meaner and shabbier things than we 
So stupidly bend to utility !" 
So said little Red-cap, and all the rout 
Of the Poppy-clan set up a mighty shout ; 
Mighty for them, but if ymi had heard 
You had thought it the cry of a tiny bird. 
So the Poppy-folk flaunted it over the field, 
In pride of grandeur they nodded and reeled ; 
And shook out their jackets, till naught was seen, 
But a wide, wide shimmer of scarlet and green. 
The Elue-bottle sat on her downy stalk, 
Quietl}' smiling at all their talk. 
The ]Marigold still spread her rays to the sun, 
And the purple Vetch climbed up to peep at the fua 
