Birds and flowers and other country things :: :: University of Virginia Library

Ah sweet cousin Blanche, let's see
What's the flower resembling thee!
With those dove-like eyes of thine,
And thy fair hair's silken twine;
With thy low, broad forehead, white
As marble, and as purely bright;
With thy mouth so calm and sweet,
And thy dainty hands and feet;
What's the flower most like thee?

Blossom of the orange-tree!

Where may the bright flower be met
That can match with Margaret,—
Margaret stately, staid, and good,
Growing up to womanhood;

Loving, thoughtful, wise, and kind,
Pure in heart and strong in mind?
Eyes deep-blue as is the sky
When the full moon sails on high;
Eye-brow true and forehead fair,
And dark, richly-braided hair,
And a queenly head well set,
Crown my maiden Margaret.
Where's the flower that thou canst find
Match for her in form and mind?

Fair white lilies, having birth
In their native genial earth;—
These, in scent and queenly grace,
Match thy maiden's form and face!

Now for madcap Isabel—
What shall suit her, pr'ythee tell?
Isabel is brown and wild;
Will be evermore a child;
Is all laughter, all vagary,
Has the spirit of a fairy.
Are you grave?—The gipsy sly
Turns on you her merry eye,

And you laugh, despite your will.
Isabel is never still,
Always doing, never done,
Be it mischief, work, or fun.
Isabel is short and brown,
Soft to touch as eider-down;
Tempered, like the balmy south,
With a rosy, laughing mouth;
Cheeks just tinged with peachy red,
And a graceful Hebe-head;
Hair put up in some wild way,
Decked with a hedge-rose's spray.
Now, where is the bud or bell
That may match with Isabel?

Streaky tulip jet and gold,
Dearly priced whenever sold;
Rich in colour, low and sweet,
This for Isabel is meet.

Last for Jeanie, grave and mild—
Jeanie never was a child!
Sitting on her mother's knee,
Hers was thoughtful infancy;

Growing up so meek and good,
Even from her babyhood.
All her mother's labour sharing;
For the house and children caring;
To her bed in silence creeping;
Rising early, little sleeping;
Learning soon of care and need;
Learning late to write and read;
To all hardships reconciled,
For she was a poor man's child!
What's the lowly flower of earth
Match for Jeanie's humble worth?

Soon poor Jeanie's flower is met,—
The meek, precious violet!