On The Tree Top

<h4 class = "headline"><SPAN name="willow" id = "willow"> GOLD-LOCKS’ DREAM OF PUSSIE WILLOW.</SPAN></h4> <br> &nbsp; <br> &nbsp; <hr class = "micro"> <h6>BY CLARA DOTY BATES.</h6> <hr class = "micro"> <p><span class = "smallcaps">One</span> sunny day, in the early spring,</p> <p>Before a bluebird dared to sing,</p> <p>Cloaked and furred as in winter weather,&mdash;</p> <p>Seal-brown hat and cardinal feather,&mdash;</p> <p class = "in1">Forth with a piping song,</p> <p class = "in2">Went Gold-Locks “after flowers.”</p> <p class = "in1">“Tired of waiting so long,”</p> <p class = "in2">Said this little girl of ours.</p> <p class = "stanza"> She searched the bare brown meadow over,</p> <p>And found not even a leaf of clover;</p> <p>Nor where the sod was chill and wet</p> <p>Could she spy one tint of violet;</p> <p class = "in1">But where the brooklet ran</p> <p class = "in2">A noisy swollen billow,</p> <p class = "in1">She picked in her little hand</p> <p class = "in2">A branch of pussie-willow.</p> <p class = "stanza"> She shouted out, in a happy way,</p> <p>At the catkins’ fur, so soft and gray;</p> <p>She smoothed them down with loving pats,</p> <p>And called them her little pussie-cats.</p> <p class = "in1">She played at scratch and bite;</p> <p class = "in2">She played at feeding cream;</p> <p class = "in1">And when she went to bed that night,</p> <p class = "in2">Gold-Locks dreamed a dream.</p> <p class = "stanza"> Curled in a little cosy heap,</p> <p>Under the bed-clothes, fast asleep,</p> <p>She heard, although she scarce knew how,</p> <p>A score of voices “<i>M-e-o-w! m-e-o-w!</i>”</p> <p class = "in1">And right before her bed,</p> <p class = "in2">Upon a branching tree,</p> <p class = "in1">Were kittens, and kittens, and kittens,</p> <p class = "in2">As thick as they could be.</p> <p class = "stanza"> Maltese, yellow, and black as ink;</p> <p>White, with both ears lined with pink;</p> <p>Striped, like a royal tiger’s skin;</p> <p>Yet all were hollow-eyed, and thin;</p> <p class = "in1">And each one wailed aloud,</p> <p class = "in2">Once, and twice, and thrice:</p> <p class = "in1">“We are the willow-pussies;</p> <p class = "in2">O, where are the willow-mice!”</p> <p class = "stanza"> Meanwhile, outside, through branch and bough,</p> <p>The March wind wailed, “<i>M-e-o-w! m-e-o-w!</i>”</p> <p>’Twas dark, and yet Gold-Locks awoke,</p> <p>And softly to her mother spoke:</p> <p class = "in1">“If they were fed, mamma,</p> <p class = "in2">It would be very nice;</p> <p class = "in1">But I <i>hope</i> the willow-pussies</p> <p class = "in2">Won’t find the willow-mice!”</p> <br> <p class = "illustration"> <SPAN href="images/color/pic40full.jpg" target = "_blank"> <ANTIMG src = "images/color/pic40.jpg" width-OBS="324" height-OBS="460" alt = "Little girl, / Little girl, / Where have you been? / Gathering roses to give to the queen." title = "Little girl, / Little girl, / Where have you been? / Gathering roses to give to the queen."></SPAN></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />