And still thy richest sheaves are they Which, in the ripeness of the years, The angel-reapers bear away To glory and eternal day, When nought of thee but dust appears. Thrice happy they who trace the line In every quickening field and grove Of heaven's munificent design, The recompense of life divine For toiling days of faithful love. THE FLINTY FIELD. You scorn our hill of glittering flints As though 'twere sown with dragon's teeth, For that the surface gives no hints, No hopes of genial growth beneath. Judge not the surface, bide the hour When He, whose grace can melt the rock, Shall bid o'er every flint to tower A hundred-headed golden shock. [Illustration] HOME AND ABROAD. Black and white in a windy war-- Lo! wave devouring wave, And wilder as we look afar The ocean monsters rave. But here, within this sheltering bight, A glossy sheet upcurls In whispering cadence low and light, Its rainbows fringed with pearls. Secluded thus from outer brawl, In unambitious ease, Be ours the lowly home where all Is tuned to love and peace. DISTANT SOUNDS. The children at their evening play Shout from the village street; The wind blows all that's rude away, The rest is gay and sweet. So from our garden seat on high, We love the sound to hear, For distance that enchants the eye Can fascinate the ear. Trills that distract us from the cage Were in the woods a joy; Who scans too narrowly life's page Will many a boon destroy. THE FRIENDLY THORN. I thought an asp had stung my hand While thridding Narnis' fragrant wood, When lo! in purpling blushes grand, As if my homage to command, The queen of all wild roses stood. The captive beauty soon I bound My lady's bosom to adorn,-- Beauty whose joy I ne'er had found, Upon that tangled briery mound, But for the sharp and friendly thorn. So hearts that slept from hour to hour, Pierced to the quick by sorrow's cry, Awake to fresh inspiring power, And clasp Faith's brightest purest flower, The rose divine of Charity. [Illustration] HAPPINESS. To figure true felicity This picture doth intend, A pleasant road, sweet company, And God's house at the end. BRIDEGROOM TO BRIDE. To the happy all things are heavenly. Where'er I turn this blessed day, 'Tis heaven and sunshine every way; With heavenly songs and heavenly hues, Mingle the birds, and flowers, and dews. Lo! here within the crystal moat Heaven's clouds like radiant islands float, And high above the golden hill Smiles heavenly summer blue and still. I gaze into thy loving eyes, Heaven there in twofold azure lies; And when I glance into my heart, 'Tis heaven indeed--for there thou art! THE EAR-RING.