Spring came again , and the flowers rose From their quiet winter graves , And gayly danced on their slender stems , And sang with the rippling waves . Softly the warm winds kissed their cheeks ; Brightly the sunbeams fell , As , one by one , they came again In their summer homes to dwell . And little Clover bloomed once more , Rosy , and sweet , and fair , And patiently watched by the mossy bed , For the worm still slumbered there . Then her sister flowers scornfully cried , As they waved in the summer air , `` The ugly worm was friendless and poor ; Little Clover , why shouldst thou care ? Then watch no more , nor dwell alone , Away from thy sister flowers ; Come , dance and feast , and spend with us These pleasant summer hours . We pity thee , foolish little flower , To trust what the false worm said ; He will not come in a fairer dress , For he lies in the green moss dead . '' But little Clover still watched on , Alone in her sunny home ; She did not doubt the poor worm 's truth , And trusted he would come . At last the small cell opened wide , And a glittering butterfly , From out the moss , on golden wings , Soared up to the sunny sky . Then the wondering flowers cried aloud , `` Clover , thy watch was vain ; He only sought a shelter here , And never will come again . '' And the unkind flowers danced for joy , When they saw him thus depart ; For the love of a beautiful butterfly Is dear to a flower 's heart . They feared he would stay in Clover 's home , And her tender care repay ; So they danced for joy , when at last he rose And silently flew away . Then little Clover bowed her head , While her soft tears fell like dew ; For her gentle heart was grieved , to find That her sisters ' words were true , And the insect she had watched so long When helpless , poor , and lone , Thankless for all her faithful care , On his golden wings had flown . But as she drooped , in silent grief , She heard little Daisy cry , `` O sisters , look ! I see him now , Afar in the sunny sky ; He is floating back from Cloud-Land now , Borne by the fragrant air . Spread wide your leaves , that he may choose The flower he deems most fair . '' Then the wild rose glowed with a deeper blush , As she proudly waved on her stem ; The Cowslip bent to the clear blue waves , And made her mirror of them . Little Houstonia merrily danced , And spread her white leaves wide ; While Daisy whispered her joy and hope , As she stood by her gay friends ' side . Violet peeped from the tall green ferns , And lifted her soft blue eye To watch the glittering form , that shone Afar in the summer sky . They thought no more of the ugly worm , Who once had wakened their scorn ; But looked and longed for the butterfly now , As the soft wind bore him on . Nearer and nearer the bright form came , And fairer the blossoms grew ; Each welcomed him , in her sweetest tones ; Each offered her honey and dew .
But in vain did they beckon , and smile , and call , And wider their leaves unclose ; The glittering form still floated on , By Violet , XXXXX , and Rose .
Afar Cloud-Land Cowslip Daisy Houstonia Spread ferns hours shouldst sunbeams