VERSES 



For the Dimifriesshirr avd Galloirri,;/ yatiirni I/istori/ ami 

 AnfiijuiiriaH Soricti/, Xovcmlicr, ISS't. 



' A primrose by the river's lirim, 



Or at the cottage door, 

 A yellow primrose was to him, 

 And it was iiothing more." 



Wurdstvorth. 



' To him who in the love of nature holds 

 Communion with her viaihle forms 

 She speaks a various language. " 



Bryant. 



The book of Nature open lies, 

 Where all may read, who cai-e 



To search her mysteries, and learn 

 The symbols graven there. 



But deeper truths can be revealed, 

 With Wisdom as a guide, 



To lead by upland brake and £;len, 

 Or tranquil river side. 



An earnest few together tried 



To form a student band. 

 To ponder Nature's forms that lie 



Profuse on every hand. 



To lure awhile from sordid toil. 

 To mark, and learn, and know 



The perfect fitness, perfect ends, 

 God's lowliest works can show : 



To search by grove and secret spring 

 Each haunt of bird and flower. 



While bounding pulses glad proclaim 

 That knowledge giveth power : 



The sequence of the floral year, 



Unerring Nature's plan, 

 The treasure stored in mine and case, 



God's bounteous gifts to man : 



To scan the stars that nightly rise 

 With solemn stately march, 



To name the glittering orbs that glow 

 On Heaven's midnight arch. 



Oft old historic ground was trod, 



And battlemented wall, 

 Now hoary ruin, echoing once 



The warrior's martial call. 



From every year that glided on 

 Were snatched a few brief days, 



To dedicate to noble ends. 

 And walk in Wisdom's ways. 



The bygone summer scarcely sped, 

 A boundless wealth has giv'n 



Of bloom and blossom, golden days, 

 Spanned by a smiling heaven. 



Old haunts were visited once more, 

 Where Nith's rock-circled wave 



Stole softly through o'ei'shadowing 

 woods, 

 Or paused in mimic cave. 



Once more were seen the girdling 

 walls. 

 Where gifts from every clime 

 Are brought, the added treasures 

 mark 

 Its calendar of time. 



Where Urr its sluggish waters rolls, 

 To meet the western sea, 



A noble house its portals op'ed 

 In hospitality. 



Its woods and gai'dens tended with 

 A watchful, guardian care, 



That wins the alien stems to thrive 

 In kindly Scottish air. 



The winter days are darkening now, 

 And storms for sunshine give, 



But records of these brighter hours 

 In storied annals live. 



Agnes Mounsey. 



