 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
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Wood-Notes and Church-Bells.
“Wood-Notes and Church-Bells” here unite their strain:“Wood-Notes,” as of the birds, simple and clear,
Uttered to please the sympathetic ear,
Where sweet flowers smile in grove and leafy lane.
“Church-Bells,” which sound, and cease, and sound again;
The sad or meditative heart to cheer,
Through all the changes of the circling year,
In days of sunshine, or of cloud and rain.
“Wood-Notes and Church-Bells,” let their strains unite,
Voices of earth and heaven' to soothe our way;
Let Nature's music still the ear delight,
And gracious echoes mortal cares allay;
Till “Wood-Notes” 'mid angelic warblings cease,
And “Church-Bells” ring us to eternal peace!
Londesborough Rectory,
East Yorkshire, 1873.
| Wood-notes and Church-bells | |