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.
