FLORA AND THALIA. 221 



The dew, the showers, the sunshine, the hdlmy, 



blessed air, 

 Spend nothing of their freshness, though all may 



freely share. 



The happy, careless creatures ! of time they take no 



heed; 

 Nor weary of his creeping, nor tremble at his speed ; 

 Nor sigh with sick impatience and wish the Ught 



away ; 

 Nor when 'tis gone cry dolefully, " would God that 



it were day !" 



And when their lives are over, they drop away to rest. 

 Unconscious of the penal doom, on holy Nature's 



breast ; 

 No pain have they in dying, no shrinking from decay : 

 Oh ! could we but return to earth as easily as they ! 



CAROLINE BOWLES. 



