14 AGRICULTURE AND RURAL-LIFE DAY. 



I've plucked the berry from the bush, the biowu uut from the tree, 



But heart of happy little bird ne'er broken was by me. 



I passed them by, and blessed them all ; I felt that it was good 



To leave unmoved the creatures small whose home was in the wood. 



— William Mothekwell. 



AFTER THE RAIN. 



The cock is crowhig. 



The stream is flowing, 



The small birds twitter, 



The lake doth glitter, 

 The green field sleeps in the sun ; 



The oldest and youngest 



Are at work with the strongest ; 



The cattle are grazing. 



Their heads never raising ; 

 There are forty feeding like one! 



Like an army defeated 



The snow hath retreated, 



And now doth fare ill 



On the top of the bare hill ; 

 The ploughboy is whooping — anon — anon : 



There's joy in the mountains; 



There's life in the fountains; 



Small clouds are sailing, 



Blue sky prevailing; 

 The rain is over and gone ! 



— William Wordsworth. 



