 | Mid-Day Gleanings |  |
QUEEN OF THE FLOWERS.
When wandering through the fields one day,
And through the meadow coming,
I found a flower on my way,
It was a lily blooming.
And through the meadow coming,
I found a flower on my way,
It was a lily blooming.
Up from the flowers all around
She raised her stately form,
And then, if e'er before, I found
A solace within a charm.
She raised her stately form,
And then, if e'er before, I found
A solace within a charm.
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She was kissed by the morning sun,
Though the sunbeams made her blush;
Her happy life had just begun,
So warbled out the thrush.
Though the sunbeams made her blush;
Her happy life had just begun,
So warbled out the thrush.
Up from her stalk a sweet perfume
That spread the meadow over,
And kissed the flowers all in bloom,
E'en to the meadow clover.
That spread the meadow over,
And kissed the flowers all in bloom,
E'en to the meadow clover.
Made many flowers raise their heads
And call modest lily sweet,
While others from their humble beds
Walked out to kiss her feet.
And call modest lily sweet,
While others from their humble beds
Walked out to kiss her feet.
And every worm and shrub and tree,
Even the Apple green,
Unanimously did agree
To call her the “flower queen.”
Even the Apple green,
Unanimously did agree
To call her the “flower queen.”
And then the lark and linnet came
Singing loud—“May honor show
That well may fare the lily's name,
And in beauty may she grow.”
Singing loud—“May honor show
That well may fare the lily's name,
And in beauty may she grow.”
A coronation song they sang,
And the chorus joins and sings;
Through all the meadow music rang,
Like harps of a thousand strings.
And the chorus joins and sings;
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Like harps of a thousand strings.
The band of music was the bee;
The jay bird acted soldier;
He wore a cap upon his head,
And stripes across his shoulder.
The jay bird acted soldier;
He wore a cap upon his head,
And stripes across his shoulder.
Soprano sang the mocking bird
'Til the tenor took its place;
Alto sang all the sparrow hawks,
And the bullfrog sang the base.
'Til the tenor took its place;
Alto sang all the sparrow hawks,
And the bullfrog sang the base.
While thus presented they the crown
A spectator old and gray
Came forward in his royal gown
And he thus began to say—
A spectator old and gray
Came forward in his royal gown
And he thus began to say—
“Fairest queen of all the flowers!
Thy lips are a sacred thing,
Though many bees may buzz about,
Beware! they have a sting.
Thy lips are a sacred thing,
Though many bees may buzz about,
Beware! they have a sting.
Be not deceived by bees and bugs
Who praise those lips of thine,
For soon they'll stoop to ask a kiss,
And then you must decline.
Who praise those lips of thine,
For soon they'll stoop to ask a kiss,
And then you must decline.
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Or else you will attraction lose,
Thy fragrance and thy charm;
For every bee who takes a kiss
Will take away thy balm.”
Thy fragrance and thy charm;
For every bee who takes a kiss
Will take away thy balm.”
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