And from her silken bag she takes
A peppermint or two,
And questions me about my play,
My school, my dolls, the Zoo.
And then she rings for Hannah, who
Comes hobbling stiffly in,
With sugared cakes and jelly-tarts
Upon a shining tin.
When I have eaten all I can,
Aunt Lucy bids me go
Into the garden, where all kinds
Of lovely flowers grow.
Pale roses of a hundred leaves,
Sweet-william, four-o’clocks,
Pinks, daisies, bleeding-hearts and things
All bordered ’round with box.
And there’s an arbor, where the grapes
Hang low enough to reach;
A plum-tree just across the path,
And by the wall a peach.
And oh! I think it very nice
To come and visit here;
The house, the garden and the folks
All seem so very queer!
And though I am well satisfied
A while to romp and play,—
A wee old lady, kind and dear,
I want to be some day;