The rain-drops glistened on the trees around,
Whose shadows on the tall grass were not stirred,
Save when a shower of diamonds, to the ground,
Was shaken by the flight of startled bird;
For birds were warbling round, and bees were
heard

About the flowers; the cheerful rivulet sung
And gossiped, as he hastened ocean-ward;
To the gray oak the squirrel, chiding, clung,
And chirping from the ground the grasshopper
upsprung.

And from beneath the leaves that kept them

dry

Flew many a glittering insect here and there, And darted up and down the butterfly,

That seemed a living blossom of the air.

The flocks came scattering from the thicket,

where

The violent rain had pent them; in the way

Strolled groups of damsels frolicsome and fair; The farmer swung the scythe or turned the hay; And 'twixt the heavy swaths the children were at play.

It was a scene of peace—and, like a spell,
Did that serene and golden sunlight fall
Upon the motionless wood that clothed the fell,
And precipice upspringing like a wall,

And glassy river and white waterfall,

And happy living things that trod the bright And beauteous scene; while far beyond them all, On many a lovely valley, out of sight,

Was poured from the blue heavens the same soft golden light.

I looked, and thought the quiet of the scene An emblem of the peace that yet shall be, When o'er earth's continents, and isles between, The noise of war shall cease from sea to sea,

And married nations dwell in harmony;
When millions, crouching in the dust to one,
No more shall beg their lives on bended knee,
Nor the black stake be dressed, nor in the sun
The o'erlabored captive toil, and wish his life
were done.

Too long, at clash of arms amid her bowers. And pools of blood, the earth has stood aghast, The fair earth, that should only blush with flowers

And ruddy fruits; but not for aye can last The storm, and sweet the sunshine when 'tis past.

Lo, the clouds roll away-they break-they fly, And, like the glorious light of summer, cast O'er the wide landscape from the embracing sky, On all the peaceful world the smile of heaven shall lie.

AUTUMN WOODS.

ERE, in the northern gale,

The summer tresses of the trees are gone,

The woods of Autumn, all around our vale,
Have put their glory on.

The mountains that infold,

In their wide sweep, the colored landscape round, Seem groups of giant kings, in purple and gold, That guard the enchanted ground.

I roam the woods that crown

The upland, where the mingled splendors glow,
Where the gay company of trees look down.
On the green fields below.

My steps are not alone

In these bright walks; the sweet south-west,

at play,

Flies, rustling, where the painted leaves are

strown

Along the winding way.

And far in heaven, the while,

The sun, that sends that gale to wander here, Pours out on the fair earth his quiet smile,— The sweetest of the year.

Where now the solemn shade,

Verdure and gloom where many branches meet; So grateful, when the noon of summer made The valleys sick with heat?