In the coolness of the evening hour,
I heard thee, thou busy, busy bee!

Thou art a miser, thou busy, busy bee!
Late and early at employ;
Still on thy golden stores intent,

Thy youth in heaping and hoarding is spent
What thy age will never enjoy;

I will not copy thee, thou miserly bee!

Thou art a fool, thou busy, busy bee!
Thus for another to toil!

Thy master waits till thy work is done,
Till the latest flowers of the ivy are gone,
And then he will seize the spoil,

And will murder thee, thou poor little bee!

Southey.

27. THE BIRD IN A CAGE.

Oh! who would keep a little bird confin'd,
When cowslip-bells are nodding in the wind,
When every hedge as with "good-morrow" rings,
And, heard from wood to wood, the blackbird
sings?

Oh! who would keep a little bird confin'd

In his cold wiry prison ?-Let him fly,

28. THE BIRD CAUGHT AT SEA.

Pretty little feathered fellow,

Why so far from home dost rove? What misfortune brought theể hither, From the green embowering grove?

Let thy throbbing heart be still,
Here secure from danger rest thee;
No one here shall use thee ill,
Here no cruel boy molest thee.

On soft sails recline thy head,

Sleep, and fear no danger near thee : Barley-corns and crumbs of bread, Crystal water, too, shall cheer thee.

And when kindly winds shall speed us
To the land we wish to see,

Then, sweet captive, thou shall leave us,
Then amidst the groves be free.

A. Hill.

29. THE STREAMLET.

I saw a little streamlet flow
Along a peaceful vale,

A thread of silver, soft and slow,
It wander'd down the dale;
Just to do good it seem'd to move,
Directed by the hand of Love.

The valley smiled in living green,
A tree, which near it gave

From noon-tide heat a friendly screen,
Drank of its limpid [1] wave.

The swallow brush'd it with his wing,
And follow'd its meandering. [2]

But not alone to plant and bird
That little stream was known,
Its gentle murmur far was heard-
A friend's familiar tone!

It glided by the cotter's [3] door,
It bless'd the labours of the poor.

And would that I could thus be found,

While trav❜ling life's brief way,

An humble friend to all around,

Where'er my footsteps stray;

Like that pure stream, with tranquil breast,
Like it, still blessing, and still blest.

Stoddart.

30. THE DAISY.

What hand but His who arch'd the skies,

And pours the day-spring's [4] living flood, [5] Wond'rous alike in all He tries,

Could raise the daisy's purple bud,

[1] Limpid-clear.

[3] Cotter-cottager.

[2] Meandering-winding course.

[4] Dayspring-rise of day--dawn. [5] Living flood-of light.

Mould its green cup, its wiry stem,
Its fringed border nicely spin,
And cut the gold-embossed gem,

That, set in silver, gleams within,
And fling it, unrestrain'd and free,
O'er hill and dale, and desert sod;
That man, where'er he walks, may see
At every step the stamp of God?

Mason Good.

31. THE MOUSE'S PETITION.

FOUND IN THE TRAP, WHERE HE HAD BEEN
CONFINED ALL NIGHT.

O hear a pensive prisoner's prayer.
For liberty that sighs;
And never let thine heart be shut
Against the wretch's cries!

For here forlorn and sad I sit
Within the wiry grate;

And tremble at the approaching morn
Which brings impending fate.

If e'er thy breast with freedom glowed,
And spurn'd a tyrant's chain,
Let not thy strong oppressive force
A free-born mouse detain.

O do not stain with guiltless blood
Thy hospitable hearth;

Nor triumph that thy wiles [1] betray'd
A prize so little worth!

[1] Wiles-snares.

The scatter'd gleanings of a feast
My frugal meals supply:
But, if thine unrelenting heart
That slender boon deny,

The cheerful light, the vital air,
Are blessings widely given;
Let nature's commoners enjoy
The common gifts of heaven.

The well-taught, philosophic mind
To all compassion gives,

Casts round the world an equal eye,
And feels for all that lives.

Barbauld.

32.-THE PRISONER, TO A ROBIN REDBREAST.

Welcome! welcome! little stranger,
Welcome to my lone retreat!
Here, secure from every danger,

Hop about, and chirp, and eat.-
Robin! how I envy thee,
Happy child of liberty!

Hunger never shall distress thee,

While my meals one crumb afford, Colds and cramps shall ne'er oppress thee, Come and share my humble board: Robin, come and live with me,

Live, yet still at liberty.

E