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ST.NICHOLAS

Vor. XI.1 JUNE, 1914 No. 8

Copyright, 1914, by Tue CeExtrry Co. All rights reserved.

CHERRY-TIME

BY MARION MALLETTE THORNTON

A Tiny black-haired maiden Her tiny garden walked,

And to the bare. brown branches Most earnestly she talked:

"Oh, Honorable Branches! Behold me very sad,

Because within my garden No blossoms make me glad.

I 'm only little Iris, A maiden of Japan, N

But oh, Most Noble Branches'! Pray help me if vou can.”

The moon rose soft o'er Fuji, The wee maid sought her bed: A mat and wooden pillow Beneath her dreaming head; Her dainty blue kimono, All broidered down with gold, Drawn close about her shoulders, To keep her from the cold.

The sun rose bright on Faji, And through the paper wall The Iinde maid came, smiling, In inswer to his call; Out in the rosy morning She to her garden tlew, y And, Io! her sweetest dreaming V.4 1

Before her eves was true! LeN - PN ! 1. - . . . ‘

For while the little Tris L.

Slept in her hamboo room, The Honorable Branches L

Burst thick with cherry-bloom !

673

Go gle