The shades of night are fleeing fast away Before the blushing of the morning light; The diamond stars that gleamed in bright array Through the lone watches of the silent night, Are fading dimly, as an orb more bright, The glorious sun, from the deep coral caves, Comes leaping forth in swift and tireless flight, And as the sea his burning bosom laves, More brightly throws his glance across the bounding waves. The cheerful songsters of the verdant grove, Are trilling forth their merry morning lays-- Their matin songs of warm impassioned love, Which sweetly strike the ear of him who strays Through the green paths and shady woodland ways, Drinking deep pleasure from old Nature's wells, Where the wild cat'ract in the sunlight plays, Or seated lone, mid dark and mossy dells-- Or on some rocky mount yields to her magic spells. The red-breast, mounted on some tow'ring tree, Is chanting loud his merry, mirthful strain; And the sweet lark's melodious notes of glee, Are softly floating o'er the dewy plain. From the broad fields which wave with golden grain, Echoes the whistle of the timid quail; And the loud laughter of the reaper train Sweeps wildly by, borne on the passing gale O'er woodland hill afar, and flowery-vested vale. I hear the tuneful sound of humming bees, And gently blows the soothing summer wind With murmuring sound among the wavy trees, And where gay flowers, in wild luxuriance twined, Shed fragrance on its wings. How dull, how blind To nature and her charms is he who sleeps Through the glad morn, nor feels the fragrant wind That o'er the hills and verdant valleys sweeps, 'Till with wild joy the heart of Nature's lover leaps! O'er hill and valley far away I've strayed, And gathered roses wet with morning dew, To deck the grave where sleeps a gentle maid Whose tender heart no change nor coldness knew, But throbbed with love, which warmer, holier grew As waxed more dim life's faint and flickering light, And to the close remained unchanged and true-- A holy flame that burned, amid the blight, Of fell disease and anguish, more divinely bright. The sun climbs higher in the azure sky-- More fiercely on the earth descend his beams-- The tender flowers hang low their heads and die, And wearied cattle seek the cooling streams. Faint grow the ploughmen and their toil-worn teams; The reapers too have ceased their strains of mirth; No more the air with sounds of pleasure teems; And now the shadows traced upon the earth, And the fierce heat, proclaim the sultry noon-day's birth.