"I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing."-Ezekiel xxxiv. 26.

ALL day the low-hung clouds have dropped

Their garnered fulness down ;

All day that soft grey mist hath wrapped
Hill, valley, grove, and town.
There has not been a sound to-day

To break the calm of Nature:

Nor motion, I might almost say,
Of life or living creature ;
Of waving bough, or warbling bird,
Or cattle faintly lowing;

I could have half believed I heard

The leaves and blossoms growing.

I stood to hear-I love it well,

The rain's continuous sound

;

Small drops, but thick and fast they fell,

Down straight into the ground.

For leafy thickness is not yet

Earth's naked breast to screen,

Though every dripping branch is set

With shoots of tender green.

Sure since I looked at early morn,

Those honeysuckle buds

Have swelled to double growth; that thorn

Hath put forth larger studs;

That lilac's cleaving cones have burst,
The milk-white flowers revealing;

E'en now, upon my senses first

Methinks their sweets are stealing.

The very earth, the steamy air

Is all with fragrance rife;

And grace and beauty everywhere

Are flushing into life.

Down, down they come-those fruitful stores! Those earth-rejoicing drops!

A momentary deluge pours,

Then thins, decreases, stops;
And ere the dimples on the stream
Have circled out of sight,

Lo! from the west, a parting gleam
Breaks forth of amber light.

LESSONS OF RETURNING SPRING.

LESSONS Sweet of Spring returning,

Welcome to the thoughtful heart!

May I call ye sense or learning,

Instinct pure, or Heaven-taught art?

Be your title what it may,
Sweet the lengthening April day,
While with you the soul is free,
Ranging wild o'er hill and lea.

Soft as Memnon's harp at morning,
To the inward ear devout,

LESSONS OF RETURNING SPRING.

Touched by light, with heavenly warning
Your transporting chords ring out.

Every leaf in every nook,

Every wave in every brook,
Chanting with a solemn voice,

Minds us of our better choice.

Needs no show of mountain hoary,
Winding shore or deepening glen,
Where the landscape in its glory

Teaches truth to wandering men:
Give true hearts but earth and sky,
And some flowers to bloom and die-
Homely scenes and simple views
Lowly thoughts may best infuse.

See the soft green willow springing
Where the waters gently pass,
Every way her free arms flinging

O'er the moist and reedy grass.
Long ere Winter blasts are fled,
See her tipped with vernal red,
And her kindly flower displayed
Ere her leaf can cast a shade.

Though the rudest hand assail her,
Patiently she droops awhile,

But when showers and breezes hail her,
Wears again her willing smile.

Thus I learn Contentment's power
From the slighted willow bower,
Ready to give thanks and live
On the least that Heaven may give.

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