202 THE NEW MOON. Comes out upon the air; Most welcome to the lover's sight, That sweetest is the lovers' walk, And there do graver men behold And thoughts and wishes not of earth, Like that new light in heaven. THE GLADNESS OF NATURE. Is this a time to be cloudy and sad, When our mother Nature laughs around; When even the deep blue heavens look glad, And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground? There are notes of joy from the hang-bird and wren, The clouds are at play in the azure space, And their shadows at play on the bright green vale, And here they stretch to the frolic chase, And there they roll on the easy gale. There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower, There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree, There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower, And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea. And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles Ay, look, and he'll smile thy gloom away. TO THE FRINGED GENTIAN. THOU blossom bright with autumn dew, Thou comest not when violets lean Nod o'er the ground-bird's hidden nest. Thou waitest late, and com'st alone, When woods are bare and birds are flown, Then doth thy sweet and quiet eye I would that thus, when I shall see “INNOCENT CHILD AND SNOW-WHITE FLOWER.” INNOCENT child and snow-white flower! White as those leaves, just blown apart, Artless one! though thou gazest now, Fair as it is, thou wilt throw it by. Throw it aside in thy weary hour, Yet, as thy tender years depart, Keep that white and innocent heart. SONNET-MIDSUMMER. A POWER is on the earth and in the air, From which the vital spirit shrinks afraid, And shelters him, in nooks of deepest shade, Are smitten, even the dark sun-loving maize The herd beside the shaded fountain pants; The bird has sought his tree, the snake his den, |