THE GARDENER.
Reading edition
BY GEORGE S. BURLEIGH.
From dewy day-dawn to its dewy close, Between the lark's song and the whippo-wil's, With life as fresh and musical as fills Their varied round, in quiet joyance goes The faithful gardener, spying out the foes Of queenly Beauty, whom, for all the ills They wrought her reign, his hand in pity kills. That pure-eyed Peace may in her realm repose. He bears cool water to the drooping flowers, And gently crops o'erflushed exuberance; Trains the young vines to crown imperial bowers, And guardeth well fair buds from foul mischance; Let others find what prize befits their powers, His deeds put smiles on Nature's countenance.