The clouds might give abundant ram, 
The nightly dews might fall. 
And the herb that keepeth life in man 
Might yet have drunk them all. 
Then, wherefore, wherefore were they -ntd* 
All dyed with rainbow light; 
All fashion’d with supremest grace. 
Up-springing day and night; 
Springing in valleys green and low, 
And on the mountains high, 
And in the silent wilderness, 
Where no man passes by ? 
Our outward life requires them not—- 
Then wherefore had they birth ? 
To minister delight to man, 
To beautify the earth ; 
To comfort man—to whisper hope 
Whene’er his faith is dim ; 
For who so careth for the flowers 
Will much more care for hirnt 
