THE CHOSEN TREE. But one of this little family Grew tired of his mother's care; He sat all day in a sullen mood, And nought to him looked fair. For the heart of this little bird was changed, Ah, me! there is not a brighter home But he fled away, and he sported awhile, Amid flowers of each perfume and hue And when night came on he was weary and cold, And it rained, and the storm-wind blew. Ah, then, how he thought of his mother's wing, Which had covered him tenderly; And his little brothers so happy and good, In their home in the chosen tree. 1 lighted by love, made bright and happy by love. 2 divinely sweet, heavenly. 92 THE CHOSEN TREE. Then he lifted his voice, but none to hear So he covered his head with his half-fledged' wing, And sat on a stone to die. Oh, never more, in that beautiful wood, And for many a day no song of joy And thus, dear children, from this you may learn, The cause of sorrow, which nought may remove You each have a home in a chosen tree, From "Little Poems for Little Readers." 1 half-fledged, with feathers half-grown. 2 lit with love, made light and happy with love. 8 descend, come down upon it. 4 remove, to take away. THE WIND. THE wind it is a mystic' thing, It curls the blue waves into foam, And yet how gently does it come It bears the perfume of the rose, How many sounds it bears along, 1 mystic, strange, wonderful. 2 billows, waves. 8 glide, to move swiftly and smoothly over. 4 woes, sorrows. 94 THE WIND. It enters into palace halls, And carries thence the sound And bears away the captive's sigh It fans the reaper's heated brow; 'Tis like the light, a gift to all, To prince, to peasant given; This strange, mysterious thing we call HAWKSHAW. 1 martyr, a Christian who suffers death or persecution for his reli gion. 2 peasant, a labourer. THE WIND. Think not the things most wonderful For wonders are around the paths, 95 VIOLETS. UNDER the green hedges after the snow, Sweet as the roses, and blue as the sky, seen, By the leaves you may know where the violet hath been. THE DONKEY. POOR patient beast! how sad thy fate, How rudely, hardly used! And for thy very patience too, 1 ken, knowledge. 2 abused, ill-used. |