Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-10
For the Nashville P
CAT HOlIE.o
BY L. VIRGINIA FRENCH,

Ha here they come up the deep grove paths gliding,
Gay careless rambers of the summer hours;
"Birdie" ''Mammy's" shoulder proudly riding,
Her tiny fingers full of wildwood flowers,
Before them speeds my boy-a noble fellow,
With hair of gold, and eyes of laughing blue,
(Like knight of oldO signal clear and mellow
His bright toy buge sound, as into view
The merry group emerge, with shout and laughter
Bearing rich treasures from the greenwood bowers;
While "brave," good guardian, trots sedaely after,
Sorely encountered by his leash Of flowers.
And "birde's" bonnet bears wreath of ossoms,
Fair, fragile, like the cascades snowy foam,
With diamond dews still sleeping in their bosoms,-
All here you are ! one kiss and welcome home
Come, here's a mat and there crimson cushion,
Rest little ones,-tell mamma where you've been,
And where you've gathered all this gay profusion
OF buds and blossoms, moss, and garlands green.
Stay-I can tie mo magic arts protesting
Nor even gifted with the second sight,"
can reveal their native haunts by-guessing
And should fail, then you must set me right
First here is "brave, fine fellow almost hrottled
With ivy leaves, and wnter-green, you stole
Where hang the plane-tree high his branches notified
And swings his nest the glanc ng orioe.
And then here's violets--whe and blue, and golden,
Pink rock-moss, and the speckled touch -me-not,
Zone day I'll tell you, sweets, the story olden
About the Golden Violet ;)-the spot
Was warm and bright where grew this wild wake-robn,
And purple fox-glove fOurshed by its side,
This evergreen, when winter winds are sobbing
Lies nestled on the gray rocks heart of pride
This sedge you gathered where the runnels tinkle
The silver bells of fairies they pass;
This larkspur blue where bright narcssus sprinkle
GOLD stars he in ands praS
These rushes grew where glides the glancng river
By azure water-hag, AMI messy stone,
And makes the balmy air of morning culver
With elfn laughter,-very like your own,
This crimson phlox in clusters loved to mlngle
With fairys fringe, and coral honey-bells,
Where sings the hidden stream far down the dngle,
And sweet wid-roses gem the bosky dells.
Here's lly-buds-let's part the leaves asunder,
But softly, softly-see who first can find
The fairy princess legends say lives under
This snowy roof, perfumed and satin lined!
Here's scented egantine, so graceful bending,
Gay scarlet ood-pinks, and pale emerald blooms
OF wild grape, on the breeze of evening sending
Its regal odors richest Of perfumes
And here is braken leaf, and fern plume,
Brother and sister they,-and what these ?
Monk's-hood, a cowled hermit, grim and gloomy,
And ruby -gems-fresh wild. wood Strawberries
Here's rhododendron, refuge of the ouse
And quaint quamOclit breathing If the South
Red cup for the Fairy Queens carousel,
And aurum-Indans call it bite the mouth"
You those ruddy drops the petals veining,-
Old legends say it grew beneath the cross,
And this is Jesus's blood so deeply staining
ForevemOre its smooth and snowy gloss.
Here is a willow wand, they tell in story,
1t weeping hung above the crucifed;
And aspen, prematurely old and hOary
Which was the tree which the Saviour died.
I've named them all,-my loves, your baby lesson
Is over now more my heart can say
Except to pray that you may win the blessing
OF Him who wakes those blossoms, day by day.
Oh little ones be lovely like your flowers,
Mute messengers from glen and grassy sod;
Like them bring gladness to this home of ours
And tell us Of a brighter home with God.
l thought to teach the alphabet OF angels"
But have been taught lesson undefled,--
Oh would that all would list the pure evanges
OF wildwood blossom, and Of little child
FOREST HONE, sc.