Naughty Four O' Clocks

There were some naughty flowers once,

Who were careless in their play;

They got their petals torn and soiled

As they swung in the dust all day.

They went to bed at four o'clock,

With faces covered tight,

To keep the fairy Drop O' Dew

From washing them at night.

Poor Drop O'Dew! What could she do?

She said to the Fairy Queen,

"I cannot get these Four O' Clocks

To keep their faces clean."

The mighty Storm King heard the tale;

"My winds and rain," roared he,

Shall wash those naughty flowers well,

As flowers all should be."

So raindrops came and caught them all

Before they went to bed

And washed those little Four O'Clocks

At three o'clock instead.

"Naughty Four O' Clocks"

 A poem by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Bright and beautiful Four O Clocks bloom after the

sun goes down on hot summer days, perfuming

the night air with their sweetly intoxicating fragrance.