Rosy morn is brightly breaking,
  Cheerful birds melodious sing,
Earth with thankful songs awaking
  Hails with joy the merry Spring,
Silver clouds in sunlight glowing
  Slowly float the azure dome,
Tender flowers are sweetly blowing
  Round each cozy cottage home.

Dreary winter’s icy fingers
  Have released the bending tree,
Genial life reviving, lingers
  O’er the cold and sterile lea. 
From the rocky, snow-clad mountains,
  Where the breath of sunny Spring
Has unfettered muffled fountains,
  Hear the songs of gladness ring.

In the morn of playful childhood,
  With dear friends ’mid sylvan bowers,
O’er the fields and through the wildwood,
  Culling all the choicest flow’rs;
Twining wreaths, each other crowning,
  Dew-drops bright for royal gems,
Ne’er a thought of worldly frowning
  On the precious diadems.

Marched we on with true devotion,
  While the scenes of after years,
Stirr’d the spirits deep emotion,
  With alternate hopes and fears. 
While before us lay life’s prizes,
  Dazzling in the sunlight gleam,—­
How we gazed with sad surprises,
  When they vanished like a dream.

Many happy hearts grew weary,
  Rosy cheeks grew pale and white,
Pleasant paths grew dark and dreary,
  Swept by storms of withering blight;
How the changing years have fleeted,
  Strewing wrecks on either side,
Cherished schemes have been defeated,
  And the cares of age abide.

But when cheery Spring advances,
  Crowned with gems of beauty rare,
Pleasure like a fairy, dances
  O’er the landscape everywhere,
And the tide of life flows higher,
  Gloom’s dark curtains are withdrawn,
And again youth’s hidden fire,
  Thrills me as in life’s fresh dawn.

JAMES McCAULEY.

James McCauley was born August 23, 1809, near Mechanics Valley, in Cecil county, and received his education in the log schoolhouse in that neighborhood known as Maffit’s schoolhouse.  He learned the trade of a cooper with his father John McCauley.  After coming of age he taught school for a few years, and then commenced making threshing machines and horse powers, doing the wood and iron work himself.  In 1836 he removed to New Leeds, where he has since resided.

In 1841, Mr. McCauley was appointed County Surveyor by Governor Pratt, and served in that capacity for several years and has ever since practiced land surveying with much success in all parts of Cecil county.  In 1857 he was elected Register of Wills and served until the Fall of 1863.  In 1864 he was elected a delegate to the General Assembly of the State, and served in the session of 1865, and the special session of 1866.  Mr. McCauley has always been deeply interested in the cause of education and was chairman of the committee on that subject in the House of Delegates.  While in the Legislature he was instrumental in securing the passage of the law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors in Cecil county on election day.