22 LINES BY THOMPSON. 



fire which sometimes sweeps across the boundless prairie, 

 and the crash of the thunderbolt which rends the pine-tree 

 into fragments and sees His messengers in the beautiful 

 birds which flit around him shall not we, who have a 

 clearer light and a purer faith, also be ever-conscious of 

 His presence, and look upon the birds, as upon all beautiful 

 and well-created things, as evidences of His wisdom and 

 goodness ? 



A modern poet C. W. Thompson has well told us, in 

 these lines, what the teaching of these birds should be : 



Ye birds, that fly through the fields of air, 

 What lessons of wisdom and truth ye bear ! 

 Ye would teach our souls from the earth to rise ; 

 Ye would bid us all groveling scenes despise ; 

 Ye would tell us that all its pursuits are vain, 

 That pleasure is toil, ambition is pain 

 That its bliss is touched with a poisoning leaven ; 

 Ye would teach us to fix our aim in heaven. 



Beautiful birds of lightsome wing, 



Bright creatures that come with the voice of spring, 



We see you arrayed in the hues of the morn, 



Yet ye deem not of pride and ye wist not of scorn ; 



Though rainbow splendour around you glows, 



Ye vaunt not the beauty which nature bestows. 



Oh, what a lesson for glory are ye ! 



How ye preach the grace of humility ! 



Swift birds, that skim o'er the stormy deep, 

 Who steadily onward your journey keep ; 

 Who neither for rest nor for slumber stay, 

 But press still forward, by night or day, 

 As in your unwearying course ye fly 

 Beneath the clear and unclouded sky ; 

 Oh, may we, without delay, like you, 

 The path of duty and right pursue ! 



Sweet birds, that breathe the spirit of song, 

 And surround heaven's gate in melodious throng ; 

 Who rise with the earliest beams of day, 

 Your morning tribute of thanks to pay, 

 You remind us that we should likewise raise 

 The voice of devotion and song of praise ; 

 There 's something about you that points on high, 

 Ye beautiful tenants of earth and sky ! 



