Page:Poems of home and country (IA poemsofhomecount01smit).pdf/366

 How God, with loving mercy, Softening the painful blow, Leaves joy, to gild our sorrow, Like flowers in time of snow.

The cherished forms that faltered, And we laid them down to rest, In their still retreats are sleeping, With the peace of Jesus blest; Like the blossom from the tuber, Like the harvest from the grain, They will spring,—the time approaches,— To their lovely life again.

They are living still in beauty, Where the soft airs ever last, Where they never feel the fury Of the winter's bitter blast; Nor frosts, with chilling fingers, Nor griefs, with scalding tear, Where summer ever lingers, And flowers bloom all the year.

ELCOME, the opening buds of spring; Welcome, the dew and rain; Welcome, the merry birds that sing; Welcome, the bursting grain.

Welcome, the balmy airs that breathe, The rainbows, and the showers; Welcome, the early flowers that wreathe Their beauty round our bowers.