Buttercups and daisies

1 Buttercups and daisies--
O, the pretty flowers,
Coming here in spring-time
To tell of sunny hours.
While the trees are leafless,
While the fields are bare,
Buttercups and daisies
Spring up here and there.
Buttercups and daisies--
O, the pretty flowers,
Coming here in spring-time
To tell of sunny hours.

2 Ere the snowdrop peepeth,
Ere the crocus bold;
Ere the early primrose,
Opes its paly gold,
Somewere on a sunny bank,
Buttercups are bright;
Somewhere 'mong the frozen grass,
Peeps the daisy white.
Buttercups and daisies--
O, the pretty flowers,
Coming here in spring-time
To tell of sunny hours.

3 Little hardy flowers,
Like to children poor,
Playing in their sturdy health,
By their mother's door;
Purple with the north wind,
Yet alert and bold,
Fearing not and caring not,
Though they be a-cold.
Buttercups and daisies--
O, the pretty flowers,
Coming here in spring-time
To tell of sunny hours.

4 What to them is weather?
What are stormy showers?
Buttercups and daisies
Are these human flowers;
He who gave them hardship
And a life of care,
Gave them likewise hardy strength,
And patient hearts, to bear,
Buttercups and daisies--
O, the pretty flowers,
Coming here in spring-time
To tell of sunny hours.

5 Welcome yellow buttercups,
Welcome daisies white,
Ye are in my spirit
Visioned, a delight!
Coming, ere the spring-time,
Of sunny hours to tell--
Speaking to our hearts of him
Who doeth all things well.
Buttercups and daisies--
O, the pretty flowers,
Coming here in spring-time
To tell of sunny hours.

Source: The Little Minstrel: a collection of songs and music, with lessons of instruction, mathematically arranged plan of notation #52