 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
54
MORNING.
Blithely the pretty milkmaid trips along,
Bright as the dew and buoyant as the morning;
Blithely the birds pour forth their matin song,
With painted plumes the verdurous trees adorning.
Bright as the dew and buoyant as the morning;
Blithely the birds pour forth their matin song,
With painted plumes the verdurous trees adorning.
Blithely the plough-boy whistles at the plough,
As with strong hand he turns the shining furrow;
Happy as bird that whistles on the bough,
For there is joy in labour that is thorough.
As with strong hand he turns the shining furrow;
Happy as bird that whistles on the bough,
For there is joy in labour that is thorough.
In field or tree, where'er we turn the eye,
This breezy morning, there is life and motion;
A fleet of clouds is flitting briskly by,
Like snowy sails across an azure ocean.
This breezy morning, there is life and motion;
A fleet of clouds is flitting briskly by,
Like snowy sails across an azure ocean.
56
The morning is for work, we seem to hear,
As to the busy nesting birds we listen;
This is no time for idleness, 'tis clear,
While myriad dancing leaves above us glisten.
As to the busy nesting birds we listen;
This is no time for idleness, 'tis clear,
While myriad dancing leaves above us glisten.
Life, eager life, we see in Nature's face,
An energy for work in all her features;
And the great Mother's likeness we can trace
Repeated in the humblest of her creatures.
An energy for work in all her features;
And the great Mother's likeness we can trace
Repeated in the humblest of her creatures.
Nay, from the light which shines on Nature's brow
A faint reflection of God's face we gather;
And to the Law of life our being bow
Since without ceasing “worketh” the Great “Father.”
A faint reflection of God's face we gather;
And to the Law of life our being bow
Since without ceasing “worketh” the Great “Father.”
The Law of life for holy ones above
As for earth's sojourners is happy labour;
Our highest privilege by works of love
To serve our God and benefit our neighbour.
As for earth's sojourners is happy labour;
Our highest privilege by works of love
To serve our God and benefit our neighbour.
57
This is the royal Law we learn below,
In the bright morning of our Life's duration:
This is the fruitful gratitude we owe
The Giver of an infinite salvation.
In the bright morning of our Life's duration:
This is the fruitful gratitude we owe
The Giver of an infinite salvation.
Are we then working in our proper place,
However humble our appointed duty?
Does eager industry light up our face,
Such as lends village-maid her rosy beauty?
However humble our appointed duty?
Does eager industry light up our face,
Such as lends village-maid her rosy beauty?
Is our hand laid on the laborious plough
In our allotted field, with purpose steady?
And do we toil with sweat of brain or brow—
For each good word or work assigned us, ready?
In our allotted field, with purpose steady?
And do we toil with sweat of brain or brow—
For each good word or work assigned us, ready?
Do we, like Summer clouds that float aloft,
And comfort with their coolness the parched meadow,
Bring with us showers of consolation soft,
Or benediction of a healing shadow?
And comfort with their coolness the parched meadow,
Bring with us showers of consolation soft,
Or benediction of a healing shadow?
58
Does gratitude, as of the singing bird,
To our great Maker's praise attune our voices?
And is the dancing of our spirits heard
As when at morn the fluttering branch rejoices?
To our great Maker's praise attune our voices?
And is the dancing of our spirits heard
As when at morn the fluttering branch rejoices?
Oh, let us work for God while it is day,
Nor relegate our duty to the morrow,
But wisely seize the smiling morning ray
And thus escape the mists of evening sorrow.
Nor relegate our duty to the morrow,
But wisely seize the smiling morning ray
And thus escape the mists of evening sorrow.
So shall we hear the wonderful “Well done”
Crowning the labour of earth's finished story:
So shall we see with joy the face of One
Who is the “Morning Star” of Heavenly glory!
Crowning the labour of earth's finished story:
So shall we see with joy the face of One
Who is the “Morning Star” of Heavenly glory!
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