| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| To a Daisy |
| | | John Hartley |
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| AH! I ’m feared thou’s come too sooin, | |
| Little daisy! | |
| Pray whativer wor ta doin’? | |
| Are ta crazy? | |
| Winter winds are blowin’ yet. | 5 |
| Tha’ll be starved, mi little pet! | |
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| Did a gleam o’ sunshine warm thee; | |
| An’ deceive thee? | |
| Niver let appearance charm thee; | |
| Yes, believe me, | 10 |
| Smiles tha ’lt find are oft but snares | |
| Laid to catch thee unawares. | |
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| An’ yet, I think it looks a shame | |
| To talk sich stuff; | |
| I ’ve lost heart, an’ thou ’lt do t’ same, | 15 |
| Ay, sooin enough! | |
| An’, if thou ’rt happy as tha art, | |
| Trustin’ must be t’ wisest part. | |
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| Come! I ’ll pile some bits o’ stoan | |
| Round thi dwellin’; | 20 |
| They may cheer thee when I ’ve goan,— | |
| Theer’s no tellin’; | |
| An’ when Spring’s mild day draws near | |
| I ’ll release thee, niver fear! | |
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| An’ if then thi pretty face | 25 |
| Greets me smilin’, | |
| I may come an’ sit by th’ place, | |
| Time beguilin’, | |
| Glad to think I ’d paar to be | |
| Of some use if but to thee! | 30 |
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