On Shooting a Moor-hen off her nest by mistake

The Goldfinch

The Linnet's Nest

Graham

127

Dietmar 128

130

132

Dietmar 135

Darwin 136

Wilson 137

The Blue Bird

To the Wild Bullfinch, and those who know him in the

EMBLEM of Innocence! spotless and pure,
Sweet bird of the snowy-white wing;
So gentle and meek, yet so lovely thou art,
Thy loveliness touches and gladdens my heart,
Like the first early blossoms of spring.

B

22

The humming-bird there, and the gay paroquet,— But even than they thou art lovelier yet,

Sweet bird with the plumage of white.

For purity rests on thy feathers of snow,
Thy dark eye is sad, gentle Dove;
And e'en in the varying tones of thy coo,
There's an accent of sadness and tenderness too,
Like the soft farewell whisper of love.

The eagle is queen of the cliff and the wave,
And she flaps her wild wing in the sky;
The song of the lark will enrapture, 'tis true,
When no one would list to my white dove's soft coo,
No one-save her young ones—and I.

Farewell, then, sweet Dove! if the winter is cold,
May the spring with her blossoms appear
In sunny-clad beauty, to waken the song
Of the sweet-throated warblers the forest among,
And the nest of my fav'rite to cheer.