In the Haunts of Bream and Bass. 397 



Lazily piping one sharp note 

 From his silver- mailed throat, 



And down the wind the cat-bird's song 

 A slender medley trails along. 



Here a grackle chirping low, 

 There a crested vireo ; 



Every tongue of Nature sings, 

 The air is palpitant with wings ! 



Halcyon prophesies come to pass 

 In the haunts of bream and bass. 



in. 

 Bubble, bubble flows the stream, 

 Like an old tune through a dream. 



Now I cast my silken line ; 



See the gay lure spin and shine — 



While, with delicate touch, I feel 

 The gentle pulses of the reel. 



Halcyon laughs and cuckoo cries, 

 Through its leaves the plane-tree sighs. 



Bubble, bubble flows the stream, 

 Here a glow and there a gleam, 



Coolness all about me creeping, 

 Fragrance all my senses steeping, 



Spice-wood, sweet-gum, sassafras, 

 Calamus and water-grass, 



Giving up their pungent smells 

 Drawn from Nature's secret wells ; 



( )n the cool breath of the morn 

 Fragrance of the cockspur thorn. 



IV. 



I see the morning-glory's curl, 



The curious star-flower's pointed whorl. 



