Dandelion by Kate Louise Brown

SAW him peeping from my pawn,
A tiny spot of yellow,
His face was one substantial smile,
The jolly little fellow

I think he wore a doublet green,
His golden skirt tucked under;
He carried, too, a sword so sharp
That I could only wonder.

"Are you a soldier, little man,
You, with your face so sunny?"
The fellow answered not a word,
I thought it was very funny.

I left him there to guard my lawn
From robins bent on plunder,--
The soldier lad with yellow skirt,
His doublet green tucked under.

The days passed on, ---one afternoon,
As I was out a-walking,
Whom should I meet upon the lawn
But soldier-lad a-stalking.

His head, alas! was white as snow,
And it was all a-tremble.
Ah! scarce did this old veteran
My bonny lad resemble.

I bent to speak with pitying word.
Alas for good intention!
His snowy locks blew quite away;
The rest--we will not mention.
The plant baby and its friends