golden gown am I,
With cheeks like apple petals soft
And eyes like sea or sky.

They only see my tumbled braids,
They do not know I wear
A crown with turquoises and beryls
Upon my coiled-up hair.

They do not know adventures dire
Beset me, land and sea,
That page and courtier, knight and squire,
Before me bend the knee.

That haughty ships with silken sails
Upon my bidding go--
All these, and other happy things,
They cannot, cannot know.

They only see a little girl
At study, work, or play,--
A little freckled person, who
Has never much to say!

THE SELFISH SEA

The sea is very, very wide:
It takes up all the room outside;
And when I stand beside the sea,
It comes right up and pushes me!

THE RABBIT

A rabbit works its ears, and tries
To watch you with its rabbit eyes;
Its saucy little tail it flounces,
And when it hits the ground it bounces!

[Illustration: A RABBIT WORKS ITS EARS, AND TRIES TO WATCH YOU
WITH ITS RABBIT EYES]

THE UNCRITICAL KITTEN

If I am selfish when I play
My kitten likes me anyway!

NEXT-DOOR PEOPLE

The next-door people have a bird,
The yellowest you ever heard!
It hops, and chirps, and sings--and sings!
Aren't next-door people pleasant things!

PROBATION

Mother says:
If you're thoughtful and polite;
Go to bed at eight each night;
Always hasten to do chores
And give up chairs for visitors,
Weed the garden, carry wood,
And be very still and good--

Mother says:
If you're faithful in your task;
Never beg, but only ask;
Fold your napkin, say your prayers;
Put no gum upon the chairs;
Keep your bureau drawer quite neat;
Never walk through pools, but on
The sidewalk till the mud is gone;
And say "Thank you" often, and
Sit erect and walk and stand;
And wash well behind your ears;
Always wait until it clears
To wear your best clothes, and not fail
To hang your coat upon its nail--
You will find the people where
You live, like to have you there!

* * * * *

Our house has a pleasant yard.
I am trying very hard!

[Illustration: WEED THE GARDEN, CARRY WOOD]

PERHAPS!

You never know, in this great world, what
wonders there may be--
Perhaps there's buried treasure out
beneath our cherry tree