Seedling

Sterling, peridot As a quiet little seedling  Lay within its darksome bed,  To itself it fell a-talking,  And this is what it said:  'I am not so very robust,  But I'll do the best I can;'  And the seedling from that moment  Its work of life began.  So it pushed a little leaflet  Up into the light of day,  To examine the surroundings  And show the rest the way.  The leaflet liked the prospect,  So it called its brother, Stem;  Then two other leaflets heard it,  And quickly followed them.  To be sure, the haste and hurry  Made the seedling sweat and pant;  But almost before it knew it  It found itself a plant.  The sunshine poured upon it,  And the clouds they gave a shower;  And the little plant kept growing  Till it found itself a flower.  Little folks, be like the seedling,  Always do the best you can;  Every child must share life's labor  Just as well as every man.  And the sun and showers will help you  Through the lonesome, struggling hours,  Till you raise to light and beauty  Virtue's fair, unfading flowers. - Paul Laurence Dunbar Available now in the shop. xo Blue Gnome