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Till time shall be no more, in ceaseless round, 



Season shall follow season ; day to night, 



Summer to winter, harvest to seed time, 



Heat shall to cold in regular array 



Succeed."* Heav'n taught, so sang the Hebrew bard.f 



Feb. 13, 1783, 



A HARVEST SCENE. 



WAK'D by the gentle gleamings of the morn, 

 Soon clad, the reaper, provident of want 

 Hies cheerful hearted to the ripen' d field ; 

 Nor hastes alone ; attendant by his side 

 His faithful wife, sole partner of his cares, 

 Bears on her breast the sleeping babe ; behind 

 With steps unequal trips her infant train : 

 Thrice happy pair, in love and labour join'd ! 



All day they ply their task ; with mutual chat 

 Beguiling each the sultry tedious hours : 

 Around them falls in rows the sever' d corn, 

 Or the shocks rise in regular array. 



But when high noon invites to short repast 

 Beneath the shade of shelt'ring thorn they sit, 

 Divide the simple meal, and drain the cask : 

 The swinging cradle lulls the whimp'ring babe, 

 Meantime ; while growling round, if at the tread 

 Of hasty passenger alarm' d, as of their store 

 Protective, stalks the cur with bristling back, 

 To guard the scanty scrip and russet frock. 



ON THE EARLY AND LATE BLOWING OF THE VERNAL 

 AND AUTUMNAL CROCUS. 



SAY, what impels amidst surrounding snow 

 Congeal' d the Crocus' flamy bud to grow ; 

 Say, what retards amidst the summer's blaze 

 Th' autumnal bulb ; till pale declining days ? ; 

 The God of Seasons! whose pervading power 

 Controls the sun, or sheds the fleecy shower ; 

 He bids each flower his quick'ning word obey, 

 Or to each lingering bloom enjoins delay. 



* Gen. viii. 22. t Moses. 



