GRANDPAPA
Grandpapa lives at the end of the lane,
His cottage is small and its furniture plain;
No pony to ride on, no equipage grand,—
A garden, and just half an acre of land;
No dainties to dine off, and very few toys,—
Yet is grandpapa's house the delight of the boys.
Grandpapa once lived in one little room,
Grandpapa worked all day long at his loom:
He speaks with queer accent, does dear grandpapa,
And not half so well as papa and mamma.
The girls think his clothes are a little rough,
But the boys all declare they can't love him enough.
A man of the people in manners and mind,
Yet so honest, so tender, so clever, so kind:
Makes the best of his lot still, where'er it be cast.
A sturdy old Englishman, game to the last.
Though simple and humble and unknown to fame,
It's good luck to the boys to bear grandpapa's name!
MONSIEUR ET MADEMOISELLE.
Deux petits enfants Francais,
Monsieur et Mademoiselle.
Of what can they be talking, child?
Indeed I cannot tell.
But of this I am very certain,
You would find naught to blame
In that sweet French politeness—
I wish we had the same.
Monsieur has got a melon,
And scoops it with his knife,
While Mademoiselle sits watching him:
No rudeness here—no strife:
Though could you listen only,
They're chattering like two pies—
French magpies, understand me—
So merry and so wise.
Their floor is bare of carpet,
Their curtains are so thin,
They dine on meagre potage, and
Put many an onion in!
Her snow-white caps she irons:
He blacks his shoes, he can;
Yet she's a little lady
And he's a gentleman.
O busy, happy children!
That light French heart of yours,
Would it might sometimes enter at
Our solemn English doors!
Would that we worked as gaily,
And played, yes, played as well,
And lived our lives as simply
As Monsieur et Mademoiselle.
YOUNG DANDELION
Young Dandelion
On a hedge-side,
Said young Dandelion,
"Who'll be my bride?
"I'm a bold fellow
As ever was seen,
With my shield of yellow,
In the grass green.
"You may uproot me,
From field and from lane,
Trample me, cut me,—
I spring up again.
"I never flinch, Sir,
Wherever I dwell;
Give me an inch, Sir.
I'll soon take an ell.
"Drive me from garden
In anger and pride,
I'll thrive and harden
By the road-side.
"Not a bit fearful,
Showing my face,
Always so cheerful
In every place."
Said young Dandelion,
With a sweet air,
"I have my eye on
Miss Daisy fair.
"Though we may tarry
Till past the cold,
Her I will marry
Ere I grow old.
"I will protect her
From all kinds of harm,
Feed her with nectar,
Shelter her warm.
"Whate'er the weather,
Let it go by;
We'll hold together,
Daisy and I.
"I'll ne'er give in,—no!
Nothing I fear:
All that I win, O!
I'll keep for my dear."
Said young Dandelion
On his hedge-side,
"Who'll me rely on?
Who'll be my bride?"