Busy Bessie, at Her Spinning Wheel
By Louisa M. Alcott

For the Commonwealth.
Busy Bessie, At Her Spinning Wheel.
                ---
By Louisa M. Alcott
                ---
"Oh, flower at my window! 
   Why blossom you so fair, 
With your green and purple cap, 
   Upturned to sun and air?" 
"I blossom blithesome Bessie, 
   To cheer your childish heart, 
The world is full of labor, 
   And this shall be my part." 
        Whirl, busy wheel, faster! 
          Spin, little thread, spin! 
        The sun shines fair without, 
          And we are gay within!

"Oh, robin in the treetop! 
   With sunshine on your breat, 
Why brood you so patiently, 
   Above your leafy nest?" 
"I brood blithesome Bessie, 
   With softly folded wing, 
For the world has need of music, 
   And my little ones shall sing." 
         Whirl, busy wheel, faster! 
            Spin, little thread, spin! 
         The sun shines fair without, 
            And we are gay within! 

"Oh balmy wind of summer! 
  Oh, silver singing brook!
Why rustle through the branches? 
   Why shimmer in your nook?" 
"I flutter, blithesome Bessie, 
   Like a blessing far and wide 
I scatter bloom and verdure. 
   Where'er my footsteps glide." 
         Whirl, busy wheel, faster! 
           Spin, little thread, spin!
         The sun shines fair without, 
           And we are gay within! 

"Oh, brook, and breeze, and blossom!
   And robin on the tree! 
You make a joy of duty, 
   A pride of industry. 
Teach me to work as blithely, 
   With cheerful willing heart, 
For the world is full of labor, 
   And I must bear my part. 
        Whirl, busy wheel, faster! 
           Spin, little thread, spin!
        The sun shines fair without, 
           And we are gay within."