Wishing to appear not too much laden
With the wealth for which in youth he toiled;
Speaking kindly to each pretty maiden,
Stopping to caress each his neighbor's child—
Letting fall some little drops of kindness,
On their youthful hearts in very blindness.
Pleasant evening hour! when households gather
All their treasures round the ample board;
Roguish pet, and proud and sober father,
Handsome brother, by the belles adored;
Gentle sister, like a lily-flower,
Like a tall white lily growing there,
Queen of all the rest in her sweet power—
Reigning by her beauty, unaware:
Happy hour! and happy hearts, that meeting,
Hear and give love's ever-gentle greeting!
SIX.
Faint grow the shadows that flicker and waver,
Of the leaves of the vine o'er the green lattice flung;
Cooler the sea-breeze, and sweeter the flavor
Of gardens, whose odors are newly up-sprung.
Gorgeous clouds in the occident floating—
Rose-hue and purple, and crimson and gold—
Radiant "arrows of sunset" upshooting,
Shine round the banners of sunset unrolled.
Fair was the sun in his soft morning splendor;
Fair in his brilliant and noon-day array;
But all of their glory conspired, could not render
His presence so dazzhngly, gorgeously gay!
Earth thou art lovely! and fair thy adorning,
Loveliest far of the brides of the sun;
Bright are the gifts he bestoweth each morning—
Glad are his smiles on his own chosen one.
SEVEN.
The rosy twilight of a summer eve—
