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canopy" is grandly descriptive of the church's seasons, 

 conceived and expressed in the happiest vein of the 

 sacred muse. The lyric for Easter day, (to take the 

 one nearest to us in point of time,) is a gem. The 

 winter time of Christmas, and its snow white robe so 

 bridal, and so sweetly typical of the coming of the 

 Bridegroom, contrast beautifully with the vernal day 

 of Easter, and is admirably sustained throughout. 

 There is the true poetic ring in the stanza, 



" Therefore each rolling year, 



The withered leaves and sere, 

 That icy Christmas scatters crisped and torn, 



Wanderers till Easter comes, 



When in their ancient homes, 

 And on old forest boughs, they find themselves new-born." 



I will not cull out of the Catena the links, that 

 please me most. But I confidently believe, that the 

 day is not distant, when it will be conceded, that the 

 whole chain is of wrought gold, gold of thought, and 

 gold of feeling. 



It is a book of poetry, which, to be appreciated, must 

 be studied. That which prevents the immediate popu- 

 larity of a poem, may tend to secure for it a deathless 

 immortality. Wordsworth " was formerly an object of 

 neglect or derision ; " but now to use the language of 

 Coleridge, "he wears the crown, and will continue to 

 wear it, while English is English." Dr. Alexander's 

 poetry is not obscure. It is % deep. But depth is clear. 

 It is not however always seen through ; for there may 

 be a film on the eye of the reader. It is suggestive. 

 This is perhaps its principle charm. As much is 

 implied, as is expressed ; and this, in poetry as in 

 painting, is the perfection of art. 



It is somewhat curious to see, how variously poetry 

 has been defined by different writers of acknowledged 

 ability and unquestioned literary taste. I am of the 



