[B. B. D.]

At the very dawn of day, My robin from the hill flies down, And from the fence across the way, With black cap on his handsome head, And slatish cloak and vest of red, He calls me from my easeful bed: Dear up, dear up, dear! Cheer up, cheer up, cheer!

Constant as the coming morn, He leaves his green fir copse to see If I will greet his breezy horn, And share his joy that day is here To shimmer the sea, the fog to clear, And yellow the corn of the hasting year: Dear up, dear up, dear! Cheer up, cheer up, cheer!

Ah robin, so debonair, So glad of the darkness gone away, So heedful of this heart of care, Sweet to me is your roundelay, Born of a spirit so tender, so gay,-- Let me join you in duet for aye! Dear up, dear up, dear! Cheer up, cheer up, cheer!

ELISSA.

I hold my secret fast! Sunset I watch, and dawn, Wait the white moonbeam cast, The pall of night down-drawn. Then in the ebon dark I whisper to myself, While every sense doth hark Lest blade, or leaf, or elf, Should catch the trembling word, And all the listening air Be to its utmost stirred, The giddy world aware!

The willow heedful is, And the titmouse peers at me, The kingcups nod and quiz With an air of mystery; But no one knows at all-- I hold my secret fast! The wizard loon may call Till night be overpast, Troops of bright eyes may smile, The people look me o'er, The parson turn the stile, Friends tarry at the door!

I hold my secret fast! Sunset I watch, and dawn, See the blue heavens o'ercast, The pall of night down-drawn; And then in raven dark I whisper to myself,-- My whitest soul ahark Lest blade, or leaf, or elf, Should hear the trembling word, And all the listening air Be to its farthest stirred, The rolling world aware

THE HUMMING-BIRD.

Thought-sudden presence Out of blank air-- Humming of wings! Here--a whisk and a flash! Sipping red balm there-- And the silence sings.

Thy will works its end In freedom complete,-- Deed flashing in sheen; Forward or backward As easeful, as fleet, As a spirit unseen.

Plumed gem all athrob, Thy ruby throat burns As from the hot kiss Of a heaven-smit soul As it panteth and yearns, In its rapture of bliss!

Thing of beauty, of life, Bright wink of a day When we'll be what we are-- Freed of this garment's hem! O soul, get thy wings, Find the red balm for aye, (Life of earth and of star!) Flash with love, a live gem!

THE HEPATICA.

Hail, first of the spring, Pearly sky-tinted thing Touched with pencil of Him Who rollest the year! Lo, thy aureole rim No painter may limn-- Vision thou hast, and no fear!

Fair child of the light, What fixes thy sight? Wide-open thy roll From the seal of the clod, And thy heaven-writ scroll Glows, beautiful soul, With the shining of God!

Thou look'st into heaven As surely as Stephen, So steadfast thy will is! And from earth's inglenook Seest Christ of the lilies And daffadowndillies, And catchest His look.

And a portion is mine, Rapt gazer divine, From thy countenance given-- Angel bliss in thy face! I've looked into heaven As surely as Stephen, From out of my place!

THE WHITE ROSE.