“The flowers are blooming everywhere,On every hill and dell,And O, how beautiful they are!How sweetly, too, they smell! “The little brooks, they dance along,And look so glad and gay;I love to hear their pleasant song,I feel as glad as they. “The young lambs bleat and frisk about,The bees hum round their hive,The butterflies are coming […]

It is in failure, in distress,When, reft of all, it stands alone,And not in what men call success,The noble, valiant soul is known. He who perfection makes his aimShoots at a mark he may not reach;The world may laugh, the world may blame.And what it calls discretion preach. And he will fail to win the […]

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF A.G. EBERHARD. The sun in smiles doth dress his face,As evening comes to take his place;So looks the parting loved-one, whenHe means to quickly come again. With moon and stars all sparkling bright,Advances now the silent night;And with the calm and gentle moon,Sweet peace doth quietly come on. Who at […]

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF S.A. MAHLMAN. Hope, my heart, in patience hope,–Thou at last thy flowers shalt gather;God is full of tender love,–Childlike speak thou to thy Father.From believing, trusting hearts,The God of mercy ne’er departs. Clouds may come, and clouds may go,Rest upon his goodness always;To those joyful, sunny heightsLead these rough and […]

Before I close my eyes to-night,Let me myself these questions ask:–Have I endeavoured to do right,Nor thought my duty was a task? Have I been gentle, lowly, meek,And the small voice of conscience heard?When passion tempted me to speak,Have I repressed the angry word? Have I with cheerful zeal obeyedWhat my kind parents bid me […]

A BALLAD. The birds are flown away,The flowers are dead and gone,The clouds look cold and grayAround the setting sun. The trees with solemn sighsTheir naked branches swing;The winter winds arise,And mournfully they sing. Upon his father’s kneeWas Charley’s happy place,And very thoughtfullyHe looked up in his face; And these his simple words:–“Father, how cold […]

Mother! whene’er around your childYou clasp your arms in love,And when, with grateful joy, you raiseYour eyes to God above, Think of the negro mother, whenHer child is torn away,Sold for a little slave,–O, thenFor that poor mother pray! Father! whene’er your happy boysYou look upon with pride,And pray to see them when you’re old,All […]

Hail! reviving, joyous Spring,Smiling through thy veil of showers;Birds and brooks thy welcome sing,–Haste, and waken all thy flowers. Hark! a sweet pervading sound!From the breathing, moving earthLife is starting all around,Sending joy and fragrance forth. O’er the oak’s gigantic formBlossoms hang their drapery;Branches that defied the stormNow are full of melody. There is not […]

Hushed was the ocean’s stormy roar,Still as an infant’s joy;There sat upon the rocky shoreA father and his boy. Far off they saw a gallant ship,It came from foreign lands;The boy began to dance and skip,And clap his little hands. Her wished-for port is near at hand,The ship is hastening on;They hear the birds sing […]

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF UHLAND. This is the Sabbath day!In the wide field I am alone.Hark! now one morning bell’s sweet tone,–Now it has died away. Kneeling I worship Thee;Sweet dread doth o’er my spirit steal,From whispering sounds of those who kneel,Unseen, to pray with me. Around and far away,So clear and solemn is […]

The sun is hidden from our sight,The birds are sleeping sound;‘Tis time to say to all, “Good night!”And give a kiss all round. Good night! my father, mother, dear,Now kiss your little son;Good night! my friends, both far and near,Good night to every one. Good night! ye merry, merry birds,Sleep well till morning light;Perhaps if […]

[Those who are acquainted with this little poem, translatedfrom Herder, will perceive that a slight liberty has beentaken with the last two lines.] Airy, lovely, heavenly thing!Butterfly with quivering wing!Hovering in thy transient hourOver every bush and flower,Feasting upon flowers and dew,Thyself a brilliant blossom, too! Who, with skilful fingers fine,Purpled o’er those wings of […]

Come, let us all, with heart and voice,To God our Father sing and pray;In his unceasing love rejoice,And thank him for this pleasant day. The clear blue sky looks full of love;Let all our selfish passions cease!O, let us lift our thoughts above,Where all is brightness, goodness, peace. If we have done a brother wrong,O, […]

How like the morning flower ye are!Which lifts its diamond head,Exulting in the mead;But the rude wind shall steal its gem,Shall break its tender stem,And leave it dead. Frail pledges of the contrite heart,Wherefore so soon decay?O, yet prolong your stay!Until my soul shall boldly rise,And claim its native skies,Haste not away.

When children play the livelong day,Like birds and butterflies,As free and gay sport life away,And know not care nor sighs; Then earth and air seem fresh and fair,All peace below, above;Life’s flowers are there, and everywhereIs innocence and love. When children pray with fear all day,A blight must be at hand;Then joys decay, and birds […]

FROM THE GERMAN OF RAMLER. Lo! this fount is flowing ever;But the fountain prattles never.Traveller! at this fountain stay;Learn of it, with pure endeavour,Good to do, and nothing say.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN. Were I a wild, wild falcon,I’d soar away on high,And seek my father’s dwelling,Beyond the far blue sky. Against that well-known door thenI’d flap my wings with joy;My mother from the windowSees and admits her boy. “Dear son!” she’d say; “O, welcome!How often has my heartLonged sadly to embrace thee;Now here […]

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN. When at night I go to sleep,Fourteen angels are at hand;–Two on my right their watches keep;Two on my left to bless me stand;Two hover gently o’er my head;Two guard the foot of my small bed;Two wake me with the sun’s first ray;Two dress me nicely every day;Two guide me on […]

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN. In that little room of thine,Sweet sleep has come to thee;Ah, mother! dearest mother mine!O, call me to that room of thine!O, shut it not from me! I would so gladly be with thee,And be thy child again;‘Tis cold and stormy here with me,‘Tis warm, and, O, so still with thee!Ah! […]

FROM KRUMACHER. The Sabbath is here, it is sent us from heaven;Rest, rest, toilsome life,Be silent all strife,Let us stop on our way,And give thanks and prayTo Him who all things has given. The Sabbath is here, to the fields let us go;How fresh and how fair!In the still morning air,The bright golden grainWaves over […]