Excelsior

The Poplar Field

Lines on a favourite Dog

The Ant and the Butterfly

Elegy written in a Country Church

ERRATUM:

Page 40, first line, for the word glittering, read glimmering.

SELECT POETRY.

The Voice of Spring.

I AM coming, I am coming!-
Hark! the little bee is humming;
See, the lark is soaring high
In the blue and sunny sky;
And the gnats are on the wing
Wheeling round in airy ring.

See the yellow catkins cover
All the slender willows over;
And on banks of mossy green
Star-like primroses are seen;
And, their clustering leaves below,
White and purple violets blow.

Hark! the new-born lambs are bleating,

And the cawing rooks are meeting

In the elms-a noisy crowd!
All the birds are singing loud;
And the first white butterfly
In the sunshine dances by.

Look around thee-look around!
Flowers in all the fields abound;
Every running stream is bright;
All the orchard trees are white,
And each small and waving shoot
Promises sweet flowers and fruit.

Turn thine eyes to earth and heaven!
God for thee the Spring has given,
Taught the birds their melodies,
Cloth'd the earth, and clear'd the skies,
For thy pleasure or thy food:-

Pour thy soul in gratitude!

To a Redbreast.

MARY HOWITT.

LITTLE bird, with bosom red,
Welcome to my humble shed!
Daily near my table steal,
Whilst I pick my scanty meal.
Doubt not, little though there be,
But I'll cast a crumb to thee:
Well rewarded, if I spy
Pleasure in thy glancing eye;
See thee, when thou'st eat thy fill,
Plume thy breast, and wipe thy bill.
Come, my feather'd friend, again!
Well thou know'st the broken pane.
Ask of me thy daily store;
Ever welcome to my door!

LANGHORNE.