Outside the palace gardens of the king,
A little beggar-maiden stood one day;
Gazing between the massive iron gates,
Watching with wistful eyes the children play.
On either side where’er she looks around,
Are flowers of every shape and hue and shade;
“It must be Paradise,” she whispered low,
“Such lovely things can only there be made.”
And as she gaged the little prince came by,
A page behind, with shuttle-cock and bat;
He saw her there, and pausing asked surprised,
“What makes you look so sad, and sigh like that?”
“Because I have no flowers, like you,” she said,
“And, oh! it seems so very hard to see,
How God can love us all alike, when He
Gives all these things to you and none to me.”
Without a word. the little prince stooped down,
And plucked with eager hand some pansies fair;
The page, in consternation, bid him move,
For fear the king should see him talking there.
Not deigning to reply, the boy pushed past,
With flushing cheeks and eyes that shone like stars;
“She’ll know He loves her now,” he murmured low.
And thrust the glowing flowers between the bars.
And when she tried to thank him, he replied,
“They do not come from me, God sent them you;
Our Father loves us all, so take the flowers
From Him, and never doubt that He is true.”
M.F.S.