And , crossing his short legs , the inspired babe half said , half sung the following poem : -LRB- 1 -RRB- `` Sweet are the flowers of life , Swept o'er my happy days at home ; Sweet are the flowers of life When I was a little child . `` Sweet are the flowers of life That I spent with my father at home ; Sweet are the flowers of life When children played about the house . `` Sweet are the flowers of life When the lamps are lighted at night ; Sweet are the flowers of life When the flowers of summer bloomed . `` Sweet are the flowers of life Dead with the snows of winter ; Sweet are the flowers of life When the days of spring come on . -LRB- 1 -RRB- These lines were actually composed by a six-year old child . `` That 's all of that one . I made another one when I digged after the turtle . I will say that . It is a very pretty one , '' observed the poet with charming candor ; and , taking a long breath , he tuned his little lyre afresh : Sweet , sweet days are passing O'er my happy home . Passing on swift wings through the valley of life . Cold are the days when winter comes again . When my sweet days were passing at my happy home , Sweet were the days on the rivulet 's green brink ; Sweet were the days when I read my father 's books ; Sweet were the winter days when bright fires are blazing . '' `` Bless the baby ! where did he get all that ? '' exclaimed Miss Celia , amazed ; while the children giggled as Tennyson , Jr. , took a bite at the turtle instead of the half-eaten cake , and then , to prevent further mistakes , crammed the unhappy creature into a diminutive pocket in the most business-like way imaginable . `` It comes out of my head . I make lots of them , '' began the imperturbable one , yielding more and more to the social influences of the hour . `` Here are the peacocks coming to be fed , '' interrupted Bab , as the handsome birds appeared with their splendid plumage glittering in the sun . Young Barlow rose to admire ; but his thirst for knowledge was not yet quenched , and he was about to request a song from Juno and Jupiter , when old Jack , pining for society , put his head over the garden wall with a tremendous bray . This unexpected sound startled the inquiring stranger half out of his wits ; for a moment the stout legs staggered and the solemn countenance lost its composure , as he whispered , with an astonished air , `` Is that the way peacocks scream ? ''
The children were in fits of laughter , and Miss XXXXX could hardly make herself heard as she answered merrily , -- `` No , dear ; that is the donkey asking you to come and see him : will you go ?
Bab Celia Jack Jr. Juno Jupiter Tennyson days plumage rivulet