All had had some practice at the game parties , and pencils went briskly for a few minutes , while silence reigned , as the poets racked their brains for rhymes , and stared at the blooming array before them for inspiration . `` Oh , dear ! I ca n't find a word to rhyme to ` geranium , ' '' sighed Molly , pulling her braid , as if to pump the well of her fancy dry . `` Cranium , '' said Frank , who was getting on bravely with `` Annette '' and `` violet . '' `` That is elegant ! '' and Molly scribbled away in great glee , for her poems were always funny ones . `` How do you spell anemoly -- the wild flower , I mean ? '' asked Jill , who was trying to compose a very appropriate piece for her best basket , and found it easier to feel love and gratitude than to put them into verse . `` Anemone ; do spell it properly , or you 'll get laughed at , '' answered Gus , wildly struggling to make his lines express great ardor , without being `` too spoony , '' as he expressed it . `` No , I should n't . This person never laughs at other persons ' mistakes , as some persons do , '' replied Jill , with dignity . Jack was desperately chewing his pencil , for he could not get on at all ; but Ed had evidently prepared his poem , for his paper was half full already , and Merry was smiling as she wrote a friendly line or two for Ralph 's basket , as she feared he would be forgotten , and knew he loved kindness even more than he did beauty . `` Now let 's read them , '' proposed Molly , who loved to laugh even at herself . The boys politely declined , and scrambled their notes into the chosen baskets in great haste ; but the girls were less bashful . Jill was invited to begin , and gave her little piece , with the pink hyacinth basket before her , to illustrate her poem . `` TO MY LADY `` There are no flowers in the fields , No green leaves on the tree , No columbines , no violets , No sweet anemone . So I have gathered from my pots All that I have to fill The basket that I hang to-night , With heaps of love from Jill . '' `` That 's perfectly sweet ! Mine is n't ; but I meant it to be funny , '' said Molly , as if there could be any doubt about the following ditty : -- `` Dear Grif , Here is a whiff Of beautiful spring flowers ; The big red rose Is for your nose , As toward the sky it towers . `` Oh , do not frown Upon this crown Of green pinks and blue geranium But think of me When this you see , And put it on your cranium . ''
`` O Molly , you will never hear the last of that if XXXXX gets it , '' said Jill , as the applause subsided , for the boys pronounced it `` tip-top . ''
Ed Frank Grif Gus Jack Merry Molly anemone geranium minutes