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To the o'erhanging sallows: blades of grass
Slowly across the chequer'd shadows pass.

EMILY HUNTINGTON MILLER

AMERICA, 1862-

The Bluebird

I know the song that the bluebird is singing,
Out in the apple-tree where he is swinging:
Brave little fellow! the skies may be dreary:
Nothing cares he while his heart is so cheery.

Hark! how the music leaps out from his throat-- 5
Hark! was there ever so merry a note?
Listen awhile, and you'll hear what he's saying,
Up in the apple-tree, swinging and swaying.

"Dear little blossoms, down under the snow,
You must be weary of winter, I know; 10
Hark while I sing you a message of cheer--
_Summer_ is coming! and _spring-time_ is here!

"Little white snowdrop! I pray you, arise;
Bright yellow crocus! come, open your eyes;
Sweet little violets, hid from the cold, 5
Put on your mantles of purple and gold:
Daffodils! daffodils! say, do you hear?--
_Summer_ is coming! and _spring-time_ is here!"

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

SCOTLAND, 1850-1894

Where go the Boats?

Dark brown is the river,
Golden is the sand, 10
It flows along forever,
With trees on either hand.

Green leaves a-floating,
Castles of the foam,
Boats of mine a-boating--
Where will all come home?

On goes the river 5
And out past the mill,
Away down the valley,
Away down the hill.

Away down the river,
A hundred miles or more, 10
Other little children
Shall bring my boats ashore.

CHARLES LAMB, MARY LAMB

ENGLAND, 1775-1834, ENGLAND, 1764-1847

The Magpie's Nest

When the arts in their infancy were,
In a fable of old 'tis expressed
A wise magpie constructed that rare 15
Little house for young birds, called a nest.

This was talked of the whole country round;
You might hear it on every bough sung;
"Now no longer upon the rough ground