English Stories and Morals

In the Moonlight

HE picked a buttercup , and held it up to her chin . "Do you like butter?" he asked .

"Butter!" she exclaimed . " they are not made into butter . They are made into crowns for the Queen; she has a new one every morning ."

" I'll make you a crown ," he said .

" you shall make it to-night . "

" But where will my throne be ?" she asked .

" It shall be middle step of the stile by the corn _ field."

So when the moon rose I went out to see .

He wore a red jacket and his cap with the feather in it . Round here head there was a wreath of buttercups ; It was not much like a crown . On one side of the wreath there were some daisies , and on the other side was a little bunch of blackberryblossom .

" Come and dance in the Moonlight," he said ; so she climbed up over the stile , and stood in the corn_field holding out her two hands to him . He took them in his , and then they danced round and round all down the pathway , while the wheat nodded wisely on either side , and the poppies awoke and wondered . On they went , on and on through the corn_field towards the broad green meadows stretching far in to the dance . On and on , he shouting for joy , and she laughing out so merrily that the sound travelled to the edge of the wood , and thrushes heard , and dreamed of spring . On they went , on and on , and round and round , he in his red jacket and she with the red flowers dropping one by one from her wreath . On and on in the Moonlight , on and on till they had danced all down the corn_field , till they had crossed the green meadows , till they were hidden in the mist beyond . That is all I know ; but I think that in the far far off somewhere , where the moon is shining , he and she still dance along a corn_field , he is in red jacket , and she with the wild flowers dropping from her hair .