22
SUNSHINE.
Beautiful sunshine, what joy dost thou bring!
Blessing and brightening everything,
Chasing all darkness and dulness away,
Reigning with wide and beneficent sway,
Breaking the frost-chains, and melting the snow,
Flooding all nature with exquisite glow,
Ending the stern night of winter and gloom,
Charming a garden where late was a tomb.
Blessing and brightening everything,
Chasing all darkness and dulness away,
Reigning with wide and beneficent sway,
Breaking the frost-chains, and melting the snow,
Flooding all nature with exquisite glow,
Ending the stern night of winter and gloom,
Charming a garden where late was a tomb.
Wooing fair flowers with thy gentle caress
To deck the broad earth with its loveliest dress,
Hovering long over orchard and field
Till a plentiful harvest they gratefully yield;
Prompting the music that gladdens the grove,
Bidding the bee and the butterfly rove,
Calling all life to thy grand festal hall
To hold in thy presence its high carnival.
To deck the broad earth with its loveliest dress,
Hovering long over orchard and field
Till a plentiful harvest they gratefully yield;
Prompting the music that gladdens the grove,
Bidding the bee and the butterfly rove,
Calling all life to thy grand festal hall
To hold in thy presence its high carnival.
Painting the valley-lands, gilding the hills,
Making bright mirrors of rivers and rills,
Bidding the ocean break forth into smiles,
And the rocks bare and barren respond to thy wiles;
Over the landscape diffusing thy light
So that far-distant objects start forth into sight;
Then, even the clouds and the shadows we see,
Are welcome and beautiful, blending with thee.
Making bright mirrors of rivers and rills,
Bidding the ocean break forth into smiles,
And the rocks bare and barren respond to thy wiles;
Over the landscape diffusing thy light
So that far-distant objects start forth into sight;
Then, even the clouds and the shadows we see,
Are welcome and beautiful, blending with thee.
Shedding thy treasures of glory on all,
Entering palace, and cottage, and hall,
Shining with unrivalled radiance here,
Then bearing thy boons to the far hemisphere,
Whispering hope to the sick and oppressed,
Deepening joy in the satisfied breast,
Telling of happiness, beauty, and mirth
To the uttermost bound of the listening earth.
Entering palace, and cottage, and hall,
Shining with unrivalled radiance here,
Then bearing thy boons to the far hemisphere,
Whispering hope to the sick and oppressed,
Deepening joy in the satisfied breast,
Telling of happiness, beauty, and mirth
To the uttermost bound of the listening earth.
