I heard, and in my soul discerned two voices in the air I heard them talk, Why, this is strange, I trow! The Pilot's boy, who now doth crazy go bird} 244 246 249 251 E. H. WEHNERT 254 E. DUNCAN. 256 E. H. WEHNERT 257 259 261 At summer eve, when Heaven's aerial bow When Venus throned in clouds of rosy hue And braved the stormy spirit of the Cape. Who hath not paused, while Beauty's pensive eye In vain the wild bird caroll'd on the steep As ocean-wrecks illuminate the storm Swift as the tempest travels on the deep HARRISON WEIR HARRISON WEIR 305 . GEORGE THOMAS . . 307 310 311 315 317 GEORGE THOMAS And bade his country and his child farewell. Tail-piece-Sunrise Those evening bells! those evening bells! Up to the tumultuous brook of Greenhead Ghyll. 334 339 352 353 Beneath that large old oak, which near their door You must wake and call me early, call me early, As I came up the valley, whom think ye should I see The night-winds come and go, mother, upon the meadow-grass To-night I saw the sun set: he set and left behind. Though you'll not see me, mother, I shall look upon your face But tell her, when I'm gone, to train the rose-bush that I set To die before the snowdrop came, but now the violet's * When the night and morning meet. Wild flowers in the valley for other hands than mine To lie within the light of God, as I lie upon your breast A HYMN TO THE SEASONS. BY JAMES THOMSON. [JAMES THOMSON was born at Ednam, near Kelso, on the 11th of September, 1700. His father was the minister of the parish. When eighteen years of age, the youth was sent to Edinburgh to be educated for the Church; but, on the death of his father, he resolved to try his fortune in London. In March, 1727, he published his "Winter," which, in successive years, was followed by "Summer," " Spring," and "Autumn." In 1731, he became travelling companion, or tutor, to the son of Sir Charles Talbot; he was thus occupied for three years, in the course of which he visited all the most remarkable places on the Continent. On his return to England he obtained, the sinecure situation of Secretary of Briefs in the Court of Chancery, which, however, he lost on the death of his patron, Lord-Chancellor Talbot. His circumstances were afterwards improved by a pension of 100%. which he received from the Prince of Wales through Lord Lyttelton; he was also appointed Surveyor-General of the Leeward Islands, the duties of which he could perform by proxy, and which realized to him 300l. a year. Being now comparatively rich, he retired to a cottage in the neighbourhood of Richmond. He there wrote several tragedies, and his "Castle of Indolence." He died, after a short illness, on the 27th of August, 1748.] THESE as they change, Almighty Father, these Is full of Thee. Forth in the pleasing Spring Wide flush the fields; the softening air is balm; Echo the mountains round; the forest smiles; And every sense, and every heart is joy. 2 B Then comes Thy glory in the Summer-months, With light and heat refulgent. Then Thy sun Shoots full perfection through the swelling year: And oft Thy voice in dreadful thunder speaks; And oft at dawn, deep noon, or falling eve, By brooks and groves, in hollow-whispering gales. In Winter awful Thou! With clouds and storms Mysterious round! What skill, what force divine, Deep felt, in these appear! a simple train, Yet so delightful mix'd, with such kind art, Such beauty and beneficence combin'd; Shade, unperceived, so softening into shade; And all so forming an harmonious whole; That, as they still succeed, they ravish still. But wandering oft, with brute unconscious gaze, Man marks not Thee, marks not the mighty Hand, That, ever-busy, wheels the silent spheres, Works in the secret deep, shoots, steaming, thence The fair profusion that o'erspreads the Spring, Flings from the Sun direct the flaming Day, Feeds every creature, hurls the tempest forth, And, as on earth this grateful change revolves, With transport touches all the springs of life. Nature, attend join every living soul, Beneath the spacious temple of the sky, In adoration join, and, ardent, raise One general song! To Him, ye vocal gales, O, talk of Him in solitary glooms, |