The garden all was enchanted land; All silent and without motion, Like a sudden growth of the stalactite, "Twas all like a fairy forest then, Where the diamond cards were growing, And within each branch the emerald green And the ruby red were glowing. I remember many a day we spent In the bright hay-harvest meadow; The glimmering heat of the noonday ground, I can remember, as to-day The corn-field and the reaping, The rustling of the harvest-sheaves, I can feel this hour as if I lay Adown 'neath the hazel bushes, And as if we wove, for pastime wild, Our grenadier-caps of rushes. And every flower within that field To my memory's eye comes flitting, The chiccory-flower, like a blue cockade, For a fairy-knight befitting. The willow-herb by the water side, With its fruit-like scent so mellow; The gentian blue on the marly hill, And the snap-dragon white and yellow. 1 ! I know where the hawthorn groweth red; Where pink grows the way-side yarrow ; I remember the wastes of woad and broom, And the shrubs of the red rest-harrow. I know where the blue geranium grows, And the stork's-bill small and musky; Where the rich osmunda groweth brown, And the wormwood white and dusky. There was a forest anigh our home, How we loved in its ancient glooms to be, We sate in the shade of its mighty trees, We quenched our thirst at the forest-well; And the time we spent in the good greenwood, Like the times of song, were merry. We had no crosses then, no cares ; We were children like yourselves then; And we danced and sang, and made us mirth, Like the dancing moonlight elves then! L'ENVOI. Go, little book, and to the young and kind, Of every bright, sweet-scented flower that blows; My little book, that hast been unto me Go forth; with serious style or playful grace, (131) SKETCHES OF NATURAL HISTORY, THE COOT. Oн Cooт! oh bold, adventurous Coot. The perils of that stormy time, That bore thee to the sea! I saw thee on the river fair, The kingfisher came back again As if thy home to grace. But soon the mountain flood came down, "And where is she, the Water-Coot," Amid the foaming waves thou satʼst, And steered thy little boat; Thy nest of rush and water-reed So bravely set afloat. And on it went, and safely on Oh Coot! oh bold, adventurous Coot! The perils of that stormy voyage Hadst thou no fear, as night came down Upon thy watery way, Of enemies, and dangers dire Didst thou not see the falcon grim The eagle's scream came wildly near, Yet, caused it no alarm? Nor man, who seeing thee, weak thing, Did strive to do thee harm? And down the foaming waterfall, As thou was borne along, Hadst thou no dread? Oh daring bird, Thou hadst a spirit strong! 47* |