"There are many kinds of fish, my father says, that can float down the stream with the current; but there is only one fish that can swim up the stream and leap over a waterfall.
"We have many other kites too. Some of them are shaped like b.u.t.terflies. Some are shaped like birds and they make a singing noise when the wind blows through them.
"On the morning of the Flag Festival I find all my toys in the guest room where Hana finds her dolls.
"Among my toys are wooden soldiers older than Hana"s oldest dolls. My grandfather"s grandfather used to play with them when he was a little boy.
"And there are banners and swords, and images of the famous generals of j.a.pan dressed in splendid armor. My father always plays with me on the day of the Flag Festival, and he tells me about the brave soldiers of our country.
"In the evening the people light their prettiest paper lanterns, and hang them in the gardens and before every house and store.
"Sometimes my father takes me boat-riding, and the most beautiful sight of all is the river with the many colored lights twinkling from the boats."
Hana and Tora tell us about other great festivals of their country, and they invite us to visit them again at the time of the Feast of Cherry Blossoms.
A dip of the nose, A turn of the toes, A spread of the hand, A bend of the knees-- It takes all these To say "Good day"
In chrysanthemum land So far away.
MARCH
In March come the March winds; They blow and they blow, They sweep up the brown leaves, That green ones may grow.
--SELECTED.
APRIL
April, April, are you here?
Oh! how fresh the wind is blowing!
See! The sky is bright and clear; Oh! how green the gra.s.s is growing!
--DORA REED GOODALE.
MAY
Robins in the tree top; Blossoms in the gra.s.s; Green things a-growing, Everywhere you pa.s.s; Sudden little breezes; Showers of silver dew; Black bough and bent twig Budding out anew.
--T. B. ALDRICH.
EASTER SONG
TO BE MEMORIZED
Snowdrops! lift your timid heads, All the earth is waking; Field and forest, brown and dead, Into life are waking.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
Lilies! lilies! Easter calls!
Rise to meet the dawning Of the blessed light that falls Through the Easter morning.
Waken, sleeping b.u.t.terflies, Burst your narrow prison!
Spread your golden wings and rise, For the Lord is risen.
--MARY A. LATHBURY.
_From "Little Pilgrim Songs."
Used by permission of the Biglow & Main Co._
THE SONG OF THE POPPY SEED
TO BE MEMORIZED
Little brown brother, oh! little brown brother, Are you awake in the dark?
Here we lie cosily, close to each other; Hark to the song of the lark-- "Waken!" the lark says, "waken and dress you, Put on your green coats and gay, Blue sky will shine on you, sunshine caress you, Waken! "tis morning--"tis May!"
Little brown brother, oh! little brown brother, What kind of flower will you be?
I"ll be a poppy--all white, like my mother, Do be a poppy like me.
What! you"re a sunflower? How I shall miss you, When you"re grown golden and high!
But I shall send all the bees up to kiss you, Little brown brother, good-by!
--E. NESBIT.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CLOVERS
The clovers have no time to play: They feed the cows and make the hay,
And trim the lawns and help the bees, Until the sun sinks through the trees.