Page:The Romance of Nature; or, The Flower-Seasons Illustrated.djvu/51

17 The snow-drop timidly looked out,

But all was dim and drear,

Save robin's merry song, that sought

Her loneliness to cheer.

And presently the crocus heard

Their greeting, and awoke,

And donned with care her golden robe

And em'rald-coloured cloak;

And, springing from her russet shroud,

Stepped forth to meet the sun,

Who broke the clouds with one bright glance,

And his jocund race begun.

The crocus brought her sisters, too,

The purple, pied, and white;

And the red-breast warbled merrily

Above the flowerets bright.

Oh! the nightingale may love the rose,

The lark the summer's heather;

But the robin's consort-flow'rs come

And brave the wintry weather.