IN SUMMER AND WINTER. 155 



The very dial on the village church 



Seems as 'twere dreaming in a dozy rest ; 



The scribbled benches underneath the porch 

 Bask in the kindly welcome of the West ; 



But the broad casements of the old Three Kings 



Blaze like a furnace while the Blackbird sings. 



Before her home, in her accustom' d seat, 

 The tidy grandam spins beneath the shade 



Of the old honeysuckle, at her feet 



The dreaming pug, and purring tabby laid ; 



To her low chair a little maiden clings, 



And spells in silence while the Blackbird sings. 



The woods, the lawn, the peaked manor-house, 

 With its peach-cover' d walls, and rookery loud, 



The trim, quaint garden-alleys, screen'd with boughs, 

 The lion-headed gates, so grim and proud, 



The mossy fountain, with its murmurings, 



Lie in warm sunshine while the Blackbird sings. 



Far shouts and laughter from the farmstead peal, 

 Where the great stack is piling in the sun ; 



Thro' narrow gates o'erladen wagons reel, 

 And barking curs into the tumult run ; 



While the inconstant wind bears off, and brings 



The merry tempest and the Blackbird sings. 



Now the good vicar passes from his gate, 



Serene, with long white hair ; and in his eye 



Burns the clear spirit that hath conquer'd Fate, 

 And felt the wings of immortality ; 



His heart is throng' d with great imaginings, 



And tender mercies while the Blackbird sings. 



Let us add to this Joanna Baillie's picture of 



THE BLACKBIRD IN WINTER. 



Strutting before, the cock leads forth his train, 

 And chuckling near the barn-door 'mid the straw 

 Reminds the farmer of his morning's service. 

 His grateful master throws a liberal handful ; 

 They flock about it, while the hungry Sparrows, 

 Perched on the roof, look down with envious eye, 

 Then, aiming well, amidst the feeders 'light, 

 And seize upon the feast with greedy bill, 

 Till angry partlets peck them off the field. 

 But at a distance, on the leafless tree 

 All woe-begone, the lonely Blackbird sits ; 



