138 $opj>2>- 
“Next to the upland wheat, and then the oats.” 
How the Poppies shook in their scarlet coats ! 
Ay, shook with laughter, not fear, for they 
Never dreamed they too should be swept away, 
And their laughter was spite, to think that all 
Their “ useful” neighbours were doomed to fall. 
They swelled and bustled with such an air, 
The corn-fields quite in commotion were, 
And the farmer cried, glancing across the grain, 
“How those rascally weeds have come up again!” 
“Ha! ha!” laughed the Red-caps, “ha! ha! what a fuss 
Must the poor weeds be in! how they’re envying us!” 
But their mirth was cut short by the sturdy strokes 
They speedily met from the harvest-folks. 
And when low on the earth each stem was laid, 
And the round moon looked on the havoc made, 
A Blue-bottle propped herself half erect, 
And made a short-speech—to this effect. 
* 
“ My dying kins-flowers, and fainting friends, 
The same dire fate alike attends 
Those who in scarlet or blue are dressed; 
Then how silly the pride that so late possessed 
“ Our friends the Red-caps ! how low they lie, 
Who were lately so pert, and vain, and high! 
They sneered at us and our plain array; 
Are we now a whit more humbled than they? 
