THE ARETHUSA. 



ARETHUSA BULBOSA L. 



Is this a time to be cloudy and sad, 



When our Mother Nature laughs around; 

 When even the deep blue heavens look glad, 



And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground? 



There are notes of joy from the hang-bird and wren, 

 And the gossip of swallows through all the sky; 



The ground-squirrel gayly chirps by his den, 

 And the wilding bee hums merrily by. 



The clouds are at play in the azure space, 



And their shadows at play on the bright-green vale, 



And here they stretch to the frolic chase, 

 And there they roll on the easy gale. 



There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower, 

 There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree, 



There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower, 

 And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea. 



Bryant. 



THE last line of this song of gladness brings us to the side 

 of the " laughing brook that runs to the sea " and brings us to its 

 floral guardian, the beautiful Arethusa. This interesting and bril- 



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