"I should grow giddy up there," answered the Earth-worm. "It is not the place for me at all. Besides, I shall be able to talk to you all through the long winter, when you are in your blankets again." DAFFODILS Oh the golden daffodils, That open in the spring, When gorse blooms out on all the hills, And birds begin to sing! They nod their heads, their yellow heads, All down the garden walk; As if they wish to leave their beds, And run about, and talk. Suppose they could! What jolly fun To see them run and play! Like golden children from the sun, Come down to spend the day. WILLY WALLFLOWER The sun shone gaily, for it was the middle of summer. The flowers in the garden made love to the bees and tossed their pretty heads at one another. Only Willy Wallflower stood green and straight, for his flowers had not yet come. "Wake up, Willy Wallflower!" called the Roses. "It is time you showed us your flowers." "Not yet," said Willy Wallflower. "They are not ready." "How slow you are!" cried the White Lily. "If you do not hurry, the summer will be over and the bees gone. Then what will be the use of your flowers?" "I cannot help it," said Willy. "I was planted late, and am now busy making my wood. I will bloom when my time comes." The summer passed and the autumn came, but still Willy Wallflower had no flowers, though he grew taller and stouter every day. Then the cold winter came. The flowers shivered themselves away to nothing, the bees took to staying in the hive all day. The snow and ice passed, and the keen spring winds began to blow. Now Willy Wallflower was ready to make his flowers. He wrapped the little buds in their warm round tunics and set them in clusters amongst their sheltering leaves. "Grow high and open out," he said. Slowly they grew high, and at last one mild day they pushed aside their tunics and opened out. They were very beautiful; four red velvety petals spread widely out on each side; in the middle there were six pale yellow stamens and a fluffy double pistil-head. Below the fluffy head was the long, slender seed-case, where the tiny baby seedlings waited for the pollen grains that were to make them grow. "Where is our pollen?" the babies cried eagerly. "Be patient," said Willy Wallflower. "Soon the bees will bring it." But the bees were long in coming. Day after day Willy Wallflower and the babies waited, listening anxiously for the busy wings that did not come. The honey-cups were filled with sweetest honey, the petals poured out their delicious scent into the surrounding air, but no bees appeared. "Wait a little longer," said Willy Wallflower. "They will surely come soon."