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pests of heaven surround thee, when the sweet- 

 smelling herb is swept from the face of the field, 

 and the torrent stayeth not ; when the Thunderer 

 establisheth his throne on thy mountain's brow, and 

 the forests shiver before him. Or, when the north 

 wind rusheth forth in his fury, and fixeth his seal on 

 the streams of the valley, then thou dealest out the 

 snowy whirlwind, and the fruitful field becomes a 

 trackless waste. 



" Yet even then thy tender mercies are over thine 

 adopted children ; and while thy more hardy off- 

 spring sport in the whirlwind, and brave the unre- 

 lenting storm, thou shelterest in thy warm bosom 

 full many a tender nursling, and sufferest not even 

 thy summer zephyrs to visit their face too roughly: 

 they are grateful for thy kindness, and ofFer their 

 flowery tribute to thee in peace. 



" Yea, truly glorious art thou, O Allerton, in 

 thy summer attire, when thou, kind stepmother ! 

 sendest forth the children of Flora to sport on the 

 lawn, where they drink health and beauty from the 

 nectar of the evening, and give their fragrance to 

 the morning gale : then exultest thou in their well- 

 being, as they open their pure bosoms to the sun. 

 He smileth on them, and they are g;lad. 



" Yet even most lovely art thou, when the length- 

 ened shadows of the mountains obscure the valley ; 

 when the declining sun gildeth the tufted forests of 

 Gleddow, and empurpleth the little hills on every 

 side ; when thy clear eye seeth new mountains afar 

 off that the noontide splendour had eclipsed. Then 



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