O gentle bees, I have come to say That grandfather fell asleep to-day, And we know by the smile on grandfather's face He has found his dear one's biding-place. So, bees, sing soft, and, bees, sing low, As over the honey-fields you sweep,-- To the trees abloom and the flowers ablow Sing of grandfather fast asleep; And ever beneath these orchard trees Find cheer and shelter, gentle bees. THE TEA-GOWN. MY lady has a tea-gown That is wondrous fair to see,-- It is flounced and ruffed and plaited and puffed, As a tea-gown ought to be; And I thought she must be jesting Last night at supper when She remarked, by chance, that it came from France, And had cost but two pounds ten. Had she told me fifty shillings, I might (and wouldn't you?) Have referred to that dress in a way folks express By an eloquent dash or two; But the guileful little creature Knew well her tactics when She casually said that that dream in red Had cost but two pounds ten. Yet our home is all the brighter For that dainty, sensient thing, That floats away where it properly may, And clings where it ought to cling; And I count myself the luckiest Of all us married men That I have a wife whose joy in life Is a gown at two pounds ten. It isn't the gown compels me Condone this venial sin; It's the pretty face above the lace, And the gentle heart within. And with her arms about me I say, and say again, "'Twas wondrous cheap,"--and I think a heap Of that gown at two pounds ten! DOCTORS. 'Tis quite the thing to say and sing Gross libels on the doctor,-- To picture him an ogre grim Or humbug-pill concocter; Yet it's in quite another light My friendly pen would show him, Glad that it may with verse repay Some part of what I owe him. When one's all right, he's prone to spite The doctor's peaceful mission; But when he's sick, it's loud and quick He bawls for a physician. With other things, the doctor brings Sweet babes, our hearts to soften: Though I have four, I pine for more,-- Good doctor, pray come often! What though he sees death and disease Run riot all around him? Patient and true, and valorous too, Such have I always found him. Where'er he goes, he soothes our woes; And when skill's unavailing, And death is near, his words of cheer Support our courage failing.