Birds, joyous birds of the wandering wing
    Whence is it ye come with the flowers of spring? 
    “We come from the shores of the green old Nile,
    From the land where the roses of Sharon smile,
    From the palms that wave through the Indian sky,
    From the myrrh trees of glowing Araby.”

MRS. HEMANS.

* * * * *

THE BIRDS.

    With elegies of love
    Make vocal every spray.

CUNNINGHAM.

* * * * *

THRUSH.

    Whither hath the wood thrush flown
      From our greenwood bowers? 
    Wherefore builds he not again
      Where the wild thorn flowers?

    Bid him come! for on his wings
      The sunny year he bringeth,
    And the heart unlocks its springs
      Wheresoe’er he singeth.

BARRY CORNWALL.

* * * * *

LINNET.

    Within the bush her covert nest
      A little linnet fondly prest,
    The dew sat chilly on her breast
      Sae early in the morning.

    She soon shall see her tender brood
      The pride, the pleasure o’ the wood,
    Among the fresh green leaves bedewed,
      Awake the early morning.

BURNS.

* * * * *

NIGHTINGALE.

    But thee no wintry skies can harm
      Who only needs to sing
    To make even January charm
      And every season Spring.

COWPER.

* * * * *

SONGSTERS.

    Little feathered songsters of the air
    In woodlands tuneful woo and fondly pair.

SAVAGE.

* * * * *

MOHAMMEDANISM.

THE CATTLE.[3]

    The “Chapter of the Cattle:”  Heaven is whose,
    And whose is earth?  Say Allah’s, That did choose
      On His own might to lay the law of mercy. 
    He, at the Resurrection, will not lose

    One of His own.  What falleth, night or day,
    Falleth by His Almighty word alway. 
      Wilt thou have any other Lord than Allah,
    Who is not fed, but feedeth all flesh?  Say!

    For if He visit thee with woe, none makes
    The woe to cease save He; and if He takes
      Pleasure to send thee pleasure, He is Master
    Over all gifts; nor doth His thought forsake

    The creatures of the field, nor fowls that fly;
    They are “a people” also:  “These, too, I
      Have set,” the Lord saith, “in My book of record;
    These shall be gathered to Me by and by.”

    With Him of all things secret are the keys;
    None other hath them, but He hath; and sees
      Whatever is in land, or air, or water,
    Each bloom that blows, each foam-bell on the seas.

E. ARNOLD:  Pearls of the Faith.