Naughty Four O Clocks

There were some naughty flowers once,

Who were careless in their play;

They got their petals torn and soiled

And swung in the dust all day.

Then 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 those Four O'Clocks

To keep their faces clean."

The mighty Storm King heard the tale;

"My winds and rain," roared he,

Shall wash these naughty flowers well,

As flowers all should be."

So the raindrops came and caught them all

Before they went to bed,

And washed those little Four O'Clocks

At three o'clock instead.

Four O'Clocks In Bloom

"Naughty Four O'Clocks"
Laura Ingalls Wilder
(1867-1957)
American writer