LECTURES AI^D ESSAYS EEAD AT FARMERS' 



II^STITUTES. 



THE POETRY OF THE FARM. 



BT MRS. H. C. BAILEY, OF COLDWATEK. 



[Read at the Quincy Institute, February 18, 1886.] 



I saw at morn a grand old wood 

 "Wliich had for generations stood; 

 It held aloft its giant hands 

 And sheltered well the pleasant lands. 

 Twas springtime; all around was seen 

 That tender tint of living green 

 Which promise gives of loveliness 

 When nature dons her summer dress. 

 The winter snows had scarcely yet 

 Uncovered the blue violet, 

 But in the little sunny dell 

 It strove to break the potent spell. 

 The stream from icy fetters free, 

 O'er pebbles danced right merrily: 

 And 'long the banks the willow hung 

 And sang of spring with silver tongue. 

 While many a bird with anxious breast 

 Sought where to buUd its cosy nest. 

 High over all the sky was blue 

 As when creation's song was new. 



Hark! Thro' and thro' this grand old wood, 



Awake, yet full of solitude, 



Tliere rang the sound of woodman's steel 



Till e'en the forest seemed to feel 



A sadness, as each measui-ed stroke 



Upon the solemn stillness bi-oke. 



From slenderest twag to mighty oak 



A tie of brotherhood there ran — 



"Twas severed by the hand of man. 



Time passed —but with each coming day 



That wood was passing, too, away. 



A little clearing had been made 



Ere yet the trees tlu-ew down their shade 



Upon a tiny cot that stood 



Just nestling up beside the wood. 



Ere summer came the woodman brought 



A bride to shai'e his humble lot; 



And never bu"d in tree or sky 



Whose joyous song could with her vie. 



In city walls she long had dwelt, 



But now a sense of freedom felt; 



To Nature's psalm she joined her voice 



And sang from morn till night rejoice. 



