A Masque Of The Seasons

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Title:     A Masque Of The Seasons
Author: James Whitcomb Riley [More Titles by Riley]

Scene.--A kitchen.--Group of Children, popping corn.--The Fairy Queen of the Seasons discovered in the smoke of the corn-popper.--Waving her wand, and, with eerie, sharp, imperious ejaculations, addressing the bespelled auditors, who neither see nor hear her nor suspect her presence.

QUEEN

Summer or Winter or Spring or Fall,--
Which do you like the best of all?

LITTLE JASPER

When I'm dressed warm as warm can be,
And with boots, to go
Through the deepest snow,
Winter-time is the time for me!

QUEEN

Summer or Winter or Spring or Fall,--
Which do you like the best of all?

LITTLE MILDRED

I like blossoms, and birds that sing;
The grass and the dew,
And the sunshine, too,--
So, best of all I like the Spring.

QUEEN

Summer or Winter or Spring or Fall,--
Which do you like the best of all?

LITTLE MANDEVILLE

O little friends, I most rejoice
When I hear the drums
As the Circus comes,--
So Summer-time's my special choice.

QUEEN

Summer or Winter or Spring or Fall,--
Which do you like the best of all?

LITTLE EDITH

Apples of ruby, and pears of gold,
And grapes of blue
That the bee stings through.--
Fall--it is all that my heart can hold!

QUEEN

Soh! my lovelings and pretty dears,
You've _each_ a favorite, it appears,--
Summer and Winter and Spring and Fall.--
That's the reason I send them _all_!

[The end]
James Whitcomb Riley's poem: Masque Of The Seasons

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