NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION. 



239 



' Day is done brown and set away to cool ; 

 And evening like a salad fresh and moist, 

 And peppered with her muster'd stars, comes on ; — 

 The moon, like a large cheese, cut just in half, 

 Hangs o'er the landscape most invitingly ; — 

 The milky way reveals her silver stream 

 'Mid the blanc-mange-like clouds that fleck the sky ; 

 The cattle dun, sleeping in pastures brown. 

 Show like huge doughnuts in the deepening gloom. 

 How like a silver salver shines the lake ! 

 While mimic clouds upon its surface move, 

 Like floating islands in a crystal bowl. 

 The dews come down to wash the flower-cups clean. 

 And night-winds follow them to wipe them dry. 



■ On such an eve as this 'tis sweet to sit, 

 And thus commime with Nature, as she brings 

 Familiar symbols to the thoughtful breast. 

 And spreads her feast of meditative cheer. 

 Day with its broils and fiery feuds is o'er. 

 Its jars discordant and its seething strifes, 

 And all its boiling passions hushed in peace. 

 Old Earth, hung on the spit before the sun. 

 Turns her huge sides alternate to his rays. 

 Basted by rains and dews, and cooks away. 

 And so will cook, till she is done — and burnt." 



