A Land of Flowers, And of lofty Towers Carved over in marble white With living Shapes Of Panthers and Apes That gambol in ceaseless flight; And a Cellar small With its Cave in the Wall Stretching many a mile underground! And the Rope from the Moon!-- Fred woke too soon, For its end could never be found. [Illustration] I LOVE YOU, DEAR. [Illustration] [Illustration] I LOVE you, Dear, I love you, Dear, You can't think how I love you, Dear! Supposing I Were a Butterfly, I'd waver around and above you, Dear. A long way off I spied you, Dear, No bonnet or hat could hide you, Dear, If I were a Bird, Believe my word, I'd sing every day beside you, Dear. When you're away I miss you, Dear, And now you're here I'll kiss you, Dear, And beg you will take This flow'r for my sake, And my love along with this, you Dear! [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration: Music] [Illustration] SEASONS. IN Spring-time, the Forest, In Summer, the Sea, In Autumn, the Mountains, In Winter,--ah me! How gay, the old branches A-swarm with new buds, The primrose and bluebell Fresh-blown in the woods, All green things unfolding, Where merry birds sing! I love in the Woodlands To wander in Spring. What joy, when the Sea-waves, In mirth and in might, Spread purple in shadow, Flash white into light! The gale fills the sail, And the gull flies away; In crimson and gold Sets the long Summer Day. O pride! on the Mountains To leave earth below; The great slopes of heather, One broad purple glow; The loud-roaring torrent Leaps, bound after bound, To plains of gold Autumn, With mist creeping round Ah, Wind, is it Winter? Yes, Winter is here; With snow on the meadow, And ice on the mere. The daylight is short, But the firelight is long; Our skating's good sport; Then story and song. In Spring-time, the Forest, In Summer, the Sea, In Autumn, the Mountains,-- And Winter has glee. [Illustration] THE CAT AND THE DOG. THERE once lived a Man, a Cat, and a Dog, And the Man built a house with stone and log. "If you'll help to take care of this house with me, One indoors, one out, your places must be." Said both together, "Indoors I'll stay!" And they argued the matter for half-a-day. "Come, let us sing for it!" purrs the Cat; "No!" barks the Dog, "I won't do that." "Come, let us fight for it!" growls Bow-wow; "Nay!" says Pussy, "mee-ow, mee-ow!" "Well, let us race for it!"--said and done. The course is mark'd out, and away they run.