WILD FLOWERS.

WILD FLOWERS.

BEAUTIFUL children of the woods and fields!
That bloom by mountain streamlets 'mid the heather,
Or into clusters, 'neath the hazels, gather—

Or whcrc by hoary rocks you make your bields,
And sweetly flourish on through summer weather— I love ye all !

Beautiful flowers! to me ye fresher seem
From the Almighty hand that fashioned all,
Than those that flourish by a garden-wall;

And I can image you, as in a dream,

Fair, modest maidens, nursed in hamlets small— I love ye all!

Beautiful gems! that on the brow of earth Are fixed, as in a queenly diadem:

Though lowly ye, and most without a name,

Young hearts rejoice to see your buds come forth.,
As light erewhile into the world came—

I love ye all'.

Beautiful things ye are, where'er ye grow 1

The wild red rose—the speedwell's peeping eyes
Our own bluebell—tlie daisy, that doth rise

Wherever sunbeams fall or winds do blow;

And thousands more, of blessed forms and dyes— I love ye all! •

Beautiful nurslings of tlie early dew!

Fanned in your loveliness by every breeze,
And shaded o'er by green and arching trees:

I often wish that I were one of you,
Dwelling afar upon the grassy leas—

I love ye all'.

Beautiful watchers I day and night ye wake !
Tlie evening star grows dim and fades away,
And morning comes and goes, and then the dry

Within the arms of night its rest doth take ;

But ye are watchful wheresoe'er we stray—

I love ye all '.

Beautiful objects of the wild-bee's love !

The wild-bird joys your opening bloom to see
And in your native woods and wilds to be.

All hearts, to Nature true, ye strangely move ;

Ye are so passing fair—so passing free—

1 love ye all;

Beautiful children of the glen and dell—

The dingle deep—the moorland stretching wide,
And of the mossy fountain's sedgy side !

Ye o'er my heart have thrown a lovesome spell ;

And though the worldling, scorning, may deride—
I love ye all!

R Nicoll.