Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895.

John Hartley

To a Daisy

AH! I ’m feared thou’s come too sooin,

Little daisy!

Pray whativer wor ta doin’?

Are ta crazy?

Winter winds are blowin’ yet.

Tha’ll be starved, mi little pet!

Did a gleam o’ sunshine warm thee;

An’ deceive thee?

Niver let appearance charm thee;

Yes, believe me,

Smiles tha ’lt find are oft but snares

Laid to catch thee unawares.

An’ yet, I think it looks a shame

To talk sich stuff;

I ’ve lost heart, an’ thou ’lt do t’ same,

Ay, sooin enough!

An’, if thou ’rt happy as tha art,

Trustin’ must be t’ wisest part.

Come! I ’ll pile some bits o’ stoan

Round thi dwellin’;

They may cheer thee when I ’ve goan,—

Theer’s no tellin’;

An’ when Spring’s mild day draws near

I ’ll release thee, niver fear!

An’ if then thi pretty face

Greets me smilin’,

I may come an’ sit by th’ place,

Time beguilin’,

Glad to think I ’d paar to be

Of some use if but to thee!