'Tis in life's noontide she is nearest seen, Her wreath the summer-flower, her robe of But though less dazzling in her twilight dress, Which the heart worships, glowing on her brow. And hush'd the last deep beating of the heart; A NOON SCENE. BRYANT. THE quiet August noon is come A slumberous silence fills the sky, And mark yon soft white clouds, that rest O, how unlike those merry hours In sunny June, when earth laughs out; A When in the grass sweet waters talk, From every nameless blossom's bell! But now, a joy too deep for sound, A peace no other season knows, Away! I will not be, to-day, The only slave of toil and care: Away from desk and dust, away! I'll be as idle as the air. Beneath the open sky abroad, Among the plants and breathing things, The sinless, peaceful works of God, I'll share the calm the season brings. Come thou, in whose soft eyes I see From men and all their cares apart. Shall glow yet deeper near thine eyes. Rest here, beneath the unmoving shade, BARTON. Be glad ye heavens, thou earth rejoice, On which enjoyment liveth- When in the grass sweet waters talk, And strains of tiny music swell From every moss-cup of the rock, From every nameless blossom's bell! But now, a joy too deep for sound, A peace no other season knows, Hushes the heavens, and wraps the groundThe blessing of supreme repose. Away! I will not be, to-day, The only slave of toil and care: Away from desk and dust, away! I'll be as idle as the air. Beneath the open sky abroad, Among the plants and breathing things, The sinless, peaceful works of God, I'll share the calm the season brings. Come thou, in whose soft eyes I see The gentle meaning of the heart, One day amid the woods with thee, From men and all their cares apart. And where, upon the meadow's breast, The shadow of the thicket lies, The blue wild flowers thou gatherest Shall glow yet deeper near thine eyes. Come-and when, mid the calm profound, I turn, those gentle eyes to seek, They, like the lovely landscape round, Of innocence and peace shall speak. Rest here, beneath the unmoving shade, And on the silent valleys gaze, Winding and widening till they fade In yon soft ring of summer haze. The village trees their summits rear Still as its spire; and yonder flock, At rest in those calm fields, appear As chiselled from the lifeless rock. BE glad ye heavens, thou earth rejoice, The gospel of salvation: Whose word his works sustaineth, On which enjoyment liveth:- The Lord in glory reigneth! Praise Him for all that ye possess Of riches, glory, power;- His goodness every hour: His watchful and protecting eye The meanest ne'er disdaineth, Raise then, ye poor, your voice on high, But chiefly for salvation's gift, 106 Praise Him for all that ye possess Of riches, glory, power- But chiefly for salvation's gift, Of which He is the Donor, Penance is not for y To you 'tis given Then spread each wi And join the choirs Or if ye stay, To note the consecrated 1 Above the crowd, 'Twere heaven indeed Ou Nature's charms THE FALLS OF N BRAINARD THE thoughts are strange that While I look upward to thee. As if God pour'd thee from his |