THE HUMMING-BIRD.

The Humming-bird! the Humming-bird,
So fairy-like and bright;
It lives among the sunny flowers,
A creature of delight!

In the radiant islands of the East,
Where fragrant spices grow,

A thousand thousand Humming-birds
Go glancing to and fro.

Like living fires they flit about,
Scarce larger than a bee,

Among the broad Palmetto leaves,
And through the Fan-palm tree.

And in those wild and verdant woods

Where stately Moras tower, Where hangs from branching tree to tree The scarlet Passion-flower;

Where on the mighty river banks,
La Plate or Amazon,

The Cayman like an old tree trunk,

Lies basking in the sun;

There builds her nest, the Humming-bird

Within the ancient wood,

Her nest of silky cotton down,
And rears her tiny brood.

She hangs it to a slender twig,
Where waves it light and free,
As the Campanero trolls his song,
And rocks the mighty tree.

THE HUMMING-BIRD.

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All crimson is her shining breast,
Like to the red, red rose;

Her wing is the changeful green and blue
That the neck of the Peacock shows.

Thou happy, happy Humming-bird,
No winter round thee lowers;
Thou never saw'st a leafless tree,
Nor land without sweet flowers:

A reign of summer joyfulness
To thee for life is given;

Thy food the honey from the flower,
Thy drink, the dew from heaven!

How glad the heart of Eve would be,
In Eden's glorious bowers,

To see the first, first Humming-bird
Among the first spring-flowers.

Among the rainbow butterflies,
Before the rainbow shone;
One moment glancing in her sight,
Another moment gone!

Thou little shining creature,

God saved thee from the Flood, With the Eagle of the mountain land, And the Tiger of the wood!

Who cared to save the Elephant,
He also cared for thee;

And gave

those broad lands for thy home,

Where grows the Cedar-tree!