24 



BIRDS AND FLOWERS. 



he could have produced a truly American lyric about 

 our peerless songster. Hovey was a poet from whom 

 great things were expected. His "Men of Dart- 

 mouth' ' is the finest college song ever written. Mean- 

 while, I suppose our thrush must wait for a genius 

 like Shelley before literature will enshrine him in the 

 niche to which Nature has already assigned him. 



Thus far we have nothing better in its way than 

 Trowbridge's Wood Pewee. Here are a few lines 

 from this little known poem : 



"Only a little forest brook 

 The farthest hem of silence shook; 

 When in the hollow shades I heard, — 

 Was it a spirit or a bird? 

 Or, strayed from Eden, desolate, 

 Some Peri calling to her mate, 

 Whom nevermore her mate would cheer? 

 'Pe-ri! pe-ri! peer!' 



* * * * * * 



"Long-drawn and clear its closes were, 

 As if the hand of Music through * 

 The sombre robe of Silence drew ^ 

 ; A thread of golden gossamer, 



So pure a flute the fairy blew. 



