IN THE TEST. EVENING. 123 



exception only of the sedge-bird, one of the prettiest 

 of our warblers. The corn-crake also now and 

 then interrupts the silence, and the chattering of 

 starlings is heard as they settle for the night amid 

 some neighbouring alders. Something disturbs a 

 bittern from the sedges, and his boom seems to 

 sound from afar as he takes his sullen flight. The 

 beetle hums as it rapidly passes, and little white 

 moths hover about the willows in every direction ; 

 trout appear to suck them in as they fall upon 

 the gently moving water, while others are caught 

 by the bats as they leave their haunts in some old 

 tree, and hawk about with a movement as silent, as 

 it is rapid and various. A bright star appears in 

 the ' ample sky,' 



' Eve's first star thro' fleecy cloudlet peeping' 



and the moon, soon after the glowing red streaks 

 of the setting sun have disappeared, emerges from 

 a passing cloud, and adds to the beauty of the 

 scene. Not a breath of air rustles among the reeds, 

 but all is calm and tranquil 



It was an evening, bright and still, 



As ever blush' J on wave or bower, 

 Smiling from Heaven, as if nought ill 



Could happen in so sweet an hour. 



MOORK. 



Although our success in fishing was tolerably 

 good, it did not afford us so much gratification as 

 the enjoyment of the beautiful evening I have 



