“You see, merry Phillis, that dear little maid,
Has invited Belinda to tea;
Her nice little garden is shaded by trees-
What pleasanter place could there be?
There’s a cake full of plums, there are strawberries too,
And the table is set on the green;
I’m fond of a carpet all daisies and grass-
Could a prettier picture be seen?” …
This Kate Greenaway illustration and part of the poem that accompanies the original image is from the book Under the Window by Kate Greenaway, circa 1880. I can’t help but imagine some of Mrs. Beeton’s sweets being served on their tea-party table.
Click on image to enlarge.
Many thanks for this lovely old image!
I love this image. Hot tea is my favorite drink year round. Thank you. Edwina Brown
I’m happy to know that you like this image, Cindy and Edwina.
Edwina, I enjoy coffee in the morning and tea, with a little honey, throughout the day after the coffee. I have several different kinds of tea and enjoy them all. Do you have a favorite tea?
What a sweet illustration! It is now my new favorite of Kate Greenaway’s! I love all the charming details and the interplay of the green and pink.
I’m with Edwina–I drink hot tea all day long, all year long. Right now my current favorite is Sleepytime (Celestial Seasonings), which I drink even during the day because it helps calm my frequent bouts of anxiety. I drink it plain to cut down on my sugar intake, but tea really tastes best with a bit of honey, doesn’t it?!
Anyway, thank you for such a lovely illustration, Julie.: ) xoxo
You’re welcome Pat.
Does the Sleepytime tea actually help for sleep? I could use that kind of tea once in a while. 🙂
Not really. I’m a hopeless insomniac.: (