Mabel's Snow-feathers
Listen, children, while I tell you
What our merry Mabel said
When she saw the feathery snow-flakes
Tumbling down about her head.
Clapping hands and dancing gaily,
"Mamma, mamma, come and see!
Come and see the feathers, mamma,
Soft and white as they can be!"
Standing then a moment, pondering
As it w
Little face so wise and thoughtful,
Mabel cried: "Oh, now I know,
"There are lots of eider ducklets
Up in Heaven, above the blue,
And they're dropping off their feathers,--
And such downy feathers, too!
"See them frolic with each other;
See them kiss as fast they fly;
See them make believe they are going to,
Then go gaily flitting by.
"See them on the Spruce and Balsam,
Pile up little soft, fat hands;
See their many plump, white cushions;
See them wave their fairy wands.
"See the showers of flying feathers
Whisking 'round in merry moods;
See, the telegraph their perch is,--
Oh, I'm sure they're almost birds!"
Now she fancies she can hear them
Whisper of their ducklet birth;--
Hear their soft and wean-y quacklings,
As they tumble down to earth.
Now she listens for the jingle
Of the sleigh-bells they will bring;
Now she sees the flying horses,
Prancing gaily at their ring.
Lovely are these fleecy feathers,
Dainty in each rare device;
All unlike our ducklet feathers,--
White and soft, but cold as ice.
Yet they cover, warmly cover
Mother Earth so bleak and brown;
Cover her with feathery mantles,
Comforters of eider-down.
More
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