 | Rhymes with reason and without |  |
87
THE LITTLE RIVULET.
I know a gentle rill
That springs beside a hill,
In the shade
Of the birch's emerald screen,
And the alder's cheerful green,
And the sweet fern in between,
Where the sun's bright glow, I ween,
Ne'er hath strayed.
That springs beside a hill,
In the shade
Of the birch's emerald screen,
And the alder's cheerful green,
And the sweet fern in between,
Where the sun's bright glow, I ween,
Ne'er hath strayed.
Down through the meadow wide,
Down by the deep wood-side,
Cheerfully its crystal tide
Moves along;
And the cattle on its brink,
As they bow their heads to drink,
Seem to linger there and think
On its song.
Down by the deep wood-side,
Cheerfully its crystal tide
Moves along;
And the cattle on its brink,
As they bow their heads to drink,
Seem to linger there and think
On its song.
That song,—how sweet its notes,
As on the air it floats!
And the birds,
On the willow spray that 's near,
Oft turn a raptured ear,
And stoop the bliss to hear
Of its words.
As on the air it floats!
And the birds,
On the willow spray that 's near,
Oft turn a raptured ear,
And stoop the bliss to hear
Of its words.
88
The trees their branches wave,
As their roots the waters lave;
And the grass
Receives a brighter hue,
And the flowers of gold and blue
Their brilliancy renew,
As they pass.
As their roots the waters lave;
And the grass
Receives a brighter hue,
And the flowers of gold and blue
Their brilliancy renew,
As they pass.
And on its placid breast
The lilies fondly rest,
As if supremely blest
With content;
And the sedges by its side
Look down upon its tide,
With love and trust and pride
Sweetly blent.
The lilies fondly rest,
As if supremely blest
With content;
And the sedges by its side
Look down upon its tide,
With love and trust and pride
Sweetly blent.
And the living eddies twirl,
And their graceful ripples curl,
Like the tresses of a girl,
And the sky
Sends troops of gorgeous clouds
To gaze on it in crowds,
From on high.
And their graceful ripples curl,
Like the tresses of a girl,
And the sky
Sends troops of gorgeous clouds
To gaze on it in crowds,
From on high.
Like the joyous tide of youth,
Like its virtue, like its truth,
Like its guilelessness and ruth,
Sweetly gay,
Blessing all it glides among,
Cooling fevered brow and tongue,
Ever marked with smile and song,
On its way.
Like its virtue, like its truth,
Like its guilelessness and ruth,
Sweetly gay,
89
Cooling fevered brow and tongue,
Ever marked with smile and song,
On its way.
And the gentle flow of song
Like its waters moves along,
Busy paths of men among,
And its word,
Though the tempest din of life
Drown it, mayhap, in its strife,
Still its voice, with heaven rife,
Shall be heard.
Like its waters moves along,
Busy paths of men among,
And its word,
Though the tempest din of life
Drown it, mayhap, in its strife,
Still its voice, with heaven rife,
Shall be heard.
| Rhymes with reason and without | |