42 THE DELIGHTS OF GARDENS 



GARDEN 



O PAINTER of the fruits and flowers, 



We own Thy wise design, 

 Whereby these human hands of ours 



May share the work of Thine ! 



Apart from Thee we plant in vain 



The root and sow the seed ; 

 Thy early and Thy later rain, 



Thy sun and dew we need. 



Our toil is sweet with thankfulness, 



Our burden is our boon ; 

 The curse of Earth's gray morning is 



The blessing of its noon. 



Why search the wide world everywhere 

 For Eden's unknown ground ? 



That garden of the primal pair 

 May nevermore be found. 



But, blest by Thee, our patient toil 

 May right the ancient wrong, 



And give to every clime and soil 

 The beauty lost so long. 



Our homestead flowers and fruited trees 

 May Eden's orchards shame ; 



We taste the tempting sweets of these 

 Like Eve, without her blame. 



