78 FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 



not so enterprising, and I am inclined to 

 think that we enjoy them the more at their 

 coming, because we have had such a long 

 period when life seemed wholly to have 

 passed from the fields and woods. 



I am tempted to quote here some verses 

 of my own, published a good many years 

 ago in another place ; they were written for 

 children but are we not all children in 

 the spring ? 



Glorious sunshine flooding the earth 



Richly with golden showers, 

 Filling our hearts with gladness and mirth, 



Bringing the birds and flowers; 

 Joy giving sunshine, happy are we 

 In the new life that eomes from thee ! 



Softly the raindrops, falling in showers, 



Each like a tiny ball ! 

 Bring down unstinted life; to the (lowers, 



Manna to feed them all! 

 But see! the sunshine gleaming through, 

 Showeth in heaven a gate of blue! 



Over the fields the grasses are creeping, 



Spreading a velvet screen! 

 Into the light the blossoms are peeping, 



Sparkling amid the green ! 

 Joy-giving sunshine, happy are we 

 In the new life that comes from thee ! 



