“Good-by, good-by,” called the trailing arbutus family. “It’s getting a bit too late for us. We will be around next spring, though.”
“Good-by, good-by,” said the hepatica family. “We will miss you, but we’re going ourselves soon. We’re glad to have seen you. How lovely and pink you were this year.”
“And how lovely and blue you were!” said the trailing arbutus flowers. “Some of you were the most wonderful shades of lavender and purple and even pink and white!”
“We like to have different colored frocks,” they said. But then fearing that they might hurt the feelings of the trailing arbutus family they added:
“We wouldn’t care about it, though, if we had the lovely pink dresses you have!”
“Thank you, thank you,” said the trailing arbutus family. “We’re very grateful to you.”
“Well, good-by,” said the hepatica family.
“Good-by,” said the arbutus family.
“Next spring, next spring,” added the hepatica family.
“Yes, next spring, next spring,” said the arbutus family.
“And we’ll come again, too,” said the little wild violets. “We’re early spring flowers, you know.”
“Of course you are, dear little violets,” said the arbutus and hepatica families together. “Next spring, then, little wild violets.”
“Next spring,” the violets whispered very softly.