PRELIMINARY. S 



grows up and flourishes with our innocence, and it 

 only perishes with the best and truest feelings of 

 humanity. 



O Father, Lord ! 



The All-Beneficent ! I bless thy name, 

 That thou hast mantled the green earth with flowers, 

 Linking our hearts to nature ! By the love 

 Of their wild blossoms, our young footsteps first 

 Into her deep recesses are beguiled, 

 Her minster cells ; dark glen and forest bower, 

 Where, thrilling with its earliest sense of Thee, 

 Amidst the low religious whisperings 

 And shivering leaf-sounds of the solitude, 

 The spirit wakes to worship, and is made 

 Thy living temple. By the breath of flowers 

 Thou callest us, from city throngs and cares, 

 Back to the woods, the birds, the mountain streams. 

 That sing of Thee ! back to free childhood's heart, 

 Fresh with the dews of tenderness ! — Thou bidd'st 

 The lilies of the field with placid smile 

 Reprove man's feverish strivings, and infuse 

 Through his warm soul a more unworldly life. 

 With their soft gentle breath. Thou hast not left 

 His purer nature, with its fine desires, 

 Uncared for in this universe of thine ! 

 The glowing rose attests it, the beloved 

 Of poet hearts, touched by their fervent dreams 

 With spiritual light, and made a source 

 Of heaven-ascending thoughts. E'en to faint age 

 Thou lend'st the vernal bliss : — the old man's eye 

 Falls on the kindling blossoms, and his soul 

 Remembers youth and love, and hopefully 

 Turns unto Thee, who call'st earth's buried germs 

 From dust to splendour ; as the mortal seed 

 Shall, at thy summons, from the grave spring up 

 To put on glory, to be girt with power, 

 B "2 



