292 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [14:7— Oct., 1918 



their national meetings under an oak; and the celebrated con- 

 ference between the Saxons and the Britons, after the invasion 

 of the former, was held under the oaks of Dartmoor." 



"The Briton has but one native oak on which to spend his 

 loyalty and devotion. We have fifty kinds — All American — but 

 the White Oak is chief among them all." 



Two Sonnets 



By William Prindle Alexander 



Before Dawn on Mount Buell 



A Peak in the lower Adirondacks 



Oh! hour full-charged with mystic sound and light, 



A sanctifying hour; the art of day 



Still gives no sign, and the weird spell of night 



Reigns on. A prescience of the gray 



Moist morn is tokened in the measured song 



The wood thrush has begun, how like a bell 



His ringing tones are borne, how clear and strong 



They thrill the grateful calm ; a sylvan spell 



Is instinct in these dew-washed wooded ways 



Where scarce a leaf stirs on the mountain top : — 



Yea, in this hour the peace of primal days 



Seems native; lo! and now the shadows drop 



Like dusky curtains, night is fairly done, 



For in the east a million- petaled rose 



Is blushing on the distant peaks; the sun 



Too soon will come to break the deep repose 



Of these majestic mountains : — truly I 



Have felt a tranquil Presence potent here, 



Vast as the night and silent as the sky, 



Yet in this forest, Ah! how very near! 



To the River of St. Johns 



Great rivers flow that oft entrance the eye, 



And many lordly streams my eyes have seen, 



The Rhine's proud flood, the Hudson's magic sheen, 



And lovely Avon, mirror of the sky. 



But thou! oh river, beautiful St. Johns, 



Banked by the palm, thy waves glide slowly by, 



And on thy bosom, boats like stately swans 



Move on, where oaks in rich reflection lie: 



Draped by the pendant moss, each noble stem 



Grave beauty lends to thee, Oh! mystic stream, 



And hyacinths that eveywhere begem 



Thy course, are mingled with thy native gleam : — 



Each day flow on, thy sun-blessed charm renew, 



The ancient beauty that DeLeon knew! 



