A Garden Of Girls

KATE is like a violet, Gertrude's like a rose,

        Jane is like a gillyflower smart;

But Laura's like a lily, the purest bud that blows,

        Whose white, white petals veil the golden heart.

Girls in the garden--one and two and three--

One for song and one for play and one--ah, one for me!

Gillyflowers and violets and roses fair and fine,

But only one a lily, and that one lily mine!

Bertha is a hollyhock, stately, tall, and fair,

        Mabel has the daisy's dainty grace,

Edith has the gold of the sunflower on her hair,

        But Laura wears the lily in her face.

Girls in the garden--five and six and seven--

Three to take, and three to give, but one--ah! one is given--

Hollyhocks and daisies, and sunflowers like the sun,

But only one a lily, and that one lily won.