INTRODUCTION. 



Come to my cottage ! — now look out! 

 Fair prospect, Madam ! who can doubt? 

 The church at distance, 'midst the trees, 

 With verdant meadows round, must please. 

 There, too, the social rookery, 

 That ever hath been dear to me ; — 

 The bridge — beneath, the rippling stream — 

 The alder's umbrage, and the gleam 

 Of sunlight darting through the shade, 

 By lofty elms or poplars made, 

 With willows waving to the wind, 

 All aid to please, to soothe the mind ; 

 While Ducks, in sportive diving, play, 

 And Geese wide o'er the meadow stray ; 

 The Pigeons skim the air along, 

 The Cocks and Hens the barn-door throng; 

 As anxious mothers cluck aloud 

 The downy young around them crowd, 

 What time is heard the thresher s flail ; 

 The Peacock struts in plumy pride, 

 The wild Gallina* by his side, 

 E'er ready, with his powerful beak, * 



Fierce vengeance on his foes to wreak; — 

 And lo ! the milk-maid with her pail! — 

 Here feeds the sheep, and there the cow, — 

 On yonder slope the moving ploug h, 

 While heard the plough-boy's cheering note, 

 On airy waves it seems to float. 



* Numida Meleagris, Guinea Hen, or Pintado, 



