COUNTRY CHILDREN.
Little fresh violets,
Born In the wildwood,
Sweetly illustrating
Innocent childhood!
Shy as an antelope,
Brown as a berry,
Free as the mountain air,
Romping and merry,
Out in the hilly patch,
Seeking for berries;
Under the orchard tree,
Feasting on cherries;
Trampling the clover blooms
Down 'mong the grasses;
No voice to hinder them,
Dear lads and lasses!
Dear little innocents,
Born in the wildwood;
Oh that all little ones
Had such a childhood!
God's blue spread o'er them,
God's green beneath them;
No sweeter heritage
Could we bequeath them.