FOR CHILDREN. 139

Blush, when I tell you how a bir

A prison with a friend preforzed,
To liberty without.

Cowper.

 

SONG OF THE BEES.

WE watch for the light of the morn to break,
And colour the eastern sky
With its blended hues of saffron and lake ;
Then say to each other, “ Awake! awake!
For our winter's honey is all to make,
And our bread for a long supply.”

And off we hie to the hill and dell,

To the field, to the meadow and bower;
We love in the columbine’s horn to dwell,
To dip in the lily with snow-white bell,
To search for the balm in its fragrant cell,

The mint and the rosemary flower.

We seek the bloom of the eglantine,!
Of the painted thistle and brier;
And follow the steps of the wandering vine,
Whether it trail on the earth supine,
Or round the aspiring tree-top twine,
And aim at a state still higher.

While each, on the good of her sister bent,
Is busy, and cares for all,

! Eglantine—properly the sweet-brier; here the honc:
suckle is probably intended. .
® Supine---lying along on the ground.