230 OUR NATRT SONGSTERS. 



song wliicli gave " sweet tidings of the sun's 

 uprise," and Trelcomed as we do tlie " herald of 

 the mom." Shelley's beautiful comparisons of 

 this bird are too well known to be quoted, and 

 Wordsworth has a poem to the lark which contains 

 some beautiful stanzas. 



" Chanter by heaven attracted, whom no bars 

 To daylight known, deter from that pursuit, 

 'Tis well that some sage instinct, when the star.s 

 Come forth at evening, keeps thee still and mute ; 

 For not an eyelid could to sleep incline, 

 Wert thou among them singing as they shine ! " 



A toucliing little incident is recorded by Lock- 

 liart as having occun*ed during the funeral of liis 

 wife, the daughter of Sir Walter Scott. Just as 

 the remains of the departed were committed to the 

 tomb, and as the clergyman was reading the 

 solemn service, a lark sang sweetly and loudly in 

 the sky above the mourners and tlic mourned. 

 Lockhart's lines which relate this scene are very 

 beautiful : 



" thou light-loving and melodious bird, 

 At every sad and solemn fall 

 Of mine o^vn voice, each interval 

 In the soul-elevating prayer, I heard 

 Thy quivering descant full and clear- 

 Discord not inharmonious to the ear ! 



