When the bright sunset fills The silver woods with light, the green slope throws Its shadows in the hollows of the hills, And, when the eve is born, In the blue lake the sky, o'er-reaching far, Inverted in the tide Stand the gray rocks, and trembling shadows throw, And the fair trees look over, side by side, And see themselves below. Sweet April!—many a thought Is wedded unto thee, as hearts are wed; AUTUMN. WITH What a glory comes and goes the year! And when the silver habit of the clouds Comes down upon the autumn sun, and with There is a beautiful spirit breathing now Its mellow richness on the clustered trees, And, from a beaker full of richest dyes, Pouring new glory on the autumn woods, And dipping in warm light the pillared clouds. Morn on the mountain, like a summer bird, Lifts up her purple wing, and in the vales The gentle wind, a sweet and passionate wooer, Kisses the blushing leaf, and stirs up life Within the solemn woods of ash deep-crimsoned, And silver beech, and maple yellow-leaved, Where autumn, like a faint old man, sits down By the wayside a-weary. The golden robin moves. Through the trees That on wild cherry and red cedar feeds, A winter bird, comes with its plaintive whistle, Oh, what a glory doth this world put on For him who, with a fervent heart, goes forth Under the bright and glorious sky, and looks To his long resting-place without a tear. WOODS IN WINTER. WHEN winter winds are piercing chill, With solemn feet I tread the hill That overbrows the lonely vale. O'er the bare upland, and away Through the long reach of desert woods, Where, twisted round the barren oak, Where, from their frozen urns, mute springs And voices fill the woodland side. Alas! how changed from the fair scene, But still wild music is abroad, Pale, desert woods! within your crowd; And gathering winds, in hoarse accord, Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud. Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear I hear it in the opening year, — HYMN OF THE MORAVIAN NUNS OF BETHLEHEM, AT THE CONSECRATION OF PULASKI'S BANNER. WHEN the dying flame of day Through the chancel shot its ray, Far the glimmering tapers shed The blood-red banner, that with prayer Had been consecrated there. And the nuns' sweet hymn was heard the while, Sung low in the dim, mysterious aisle. "Take thy banner! May it wave Take thy banner! and, beneath Take thy banner! But, when night |