FLOWERS' NAMES.

Oh, lordly was King Solomon

A-stepping down so proud,

With his negro slaves and dancing girls

And all his royal crowd;

His peacocks and his viziers,

His eunuchs old and grey,

His gallants and his chamberlains

And glistening array.

Oh, blithesome was King Solomon

That burning summer day

When lo! a humble shepherdess

Stood silent in his way;

Then stepped down kingly Solomon,

And proud and great stepped he,

And there he kissed the shepherdess—

Kissed one and two and three.

Then proudly turned the peasant-maid—

Pale as a ghost was she—

"For all ye are King Solomon,

What make ye here so free?"

Oh, lordly laughed King Solomon,

"Shalt be my queen," quoth he;

"These kisses pledged King Solomon

And sealéd him to thee."

Then on went splendid Solomon

And all his glittering band,

And the wondering white peasant-girl

He led her by the hand;

But in that place sprang flower-stems

All green, for kingly pride,

With the small white kisses hanging down

With which he sealed his bride.