We are sending you, dear flowers

And sturdily wash, and rinse, and wring,And fasten the clothes to dry;Then out in the free fresh air they swing,Under the sunny sky.I wish we could wash from our hearts and our soulsThe stains of the week away,And let water and air by their magic makeOurselves as pure as they;Then on the earth there would…

High above the city’s tumult,Flocks of doves sit day by day.Shining necks and snowy bosoms,Little rosy, tripping feet,Twinkling eyes and fluttering wings,Cooing voices, low and sweet,-Graceful games and friendly meetings,Do I daily watch and see.For these happy little neighborsAlways seem at peace to be.On my window-ledge, to lure them,Crumbs of bread I often strew,And, behind…

When at anchor here I ride,My bosom swells with pride,And I snap my fingers at a foeman’s taunts.And so do his sisters, and his cousins, and his auntsHis sisters and his cousins!Whom he reckons by the dozens,And his aunts!‘I am the lowliest tarThat sails the water.And you, proud maiden, areMy captain’s daughter.’‘Refrain, audacious tar.Your suit…

Where your gentle sisters may not weepO’er the cold graves where you lie;But you go to bring them fadeless lifeIn the bright homes where they dwell,And you softly smile that ‘t is so,As we sadly sing farewell.O plead with gentle words for us,And whisper tenderlyOf generous love to that cold heart,And it will answer ye;And…

And by thy art divineChange mortal weakness to immortal power!Bending beneath the weight of eighty yearsSpent with the noble strifeof a victorious lifeWe watched her fading heavenward, through our tears.But ere the sense of loss our hearts had wrungA miracle was wrought;And swift as happy thoughtShe lived again — brave, beautiful, and young.Age, pain, and…

One week in all the year,Making winter springWith the joy we bringFor Christmas-tide is here.Now the eastern starShines from afarTo light the poorest home;Hearts warmer grow,Gifts freely flow,For Christmas-tide has come.Now gay trees riseBefore young eyes,Abloom with tempting cheer;Blithe voices sing,And blithe bells ring,For Christmas-tide is here.Oh, happy chime,Oh, blessed time,That draws us all so…

When wintry winds are whistling,And we hear the owl’s shrill cry,In the quiet, dusky chamber,By the flickering firelight,Rising up between two sleepers,Comes a spirit all in white.A winsome little ghost it is,Rosy-cheeked, and bright of eye;With yellow curls all breaking looseFrom the small cap pushed awry.Up it climbs among the pillows,For the ‘big dark’ brings…

High above the city’s tumult,Flocks of doves sit day by day.Shining necks and snowy bosoms,Little rosy, tripping feet,Twinkling eyes and fluttering wings,Cooing voices, low and sweet,-Graceful games and friendly meetings,Do I daily watch and see.For these happy little neighborsAlways seem at peace to be.On my window-ledge, to lure them,Crumbs of bread I often strew,And, behind…

When at anchor here I ride,My bosom swells with pride,And I snap my fingers at a foeman’s taunts.And so do his sisters, and his cousins, and his auntsHis sisters and his cousins!Whom he reckons by the dozens,And his aunts!‘I am the lowliest tarThat sails the water.And you, proud maiden, areMy captain’s daughter.’‘Refrain, audacious tar.Your suit…

For every bird will find its mate,And every lass a lad,

The low, sweet tones of happy flowers,Singing little Violet’s name.‘Mong the green trees was it whispered,And the bright waves bore it onTo the lonely forest flowers,Where the glad news had not gone.Thus the Frost-King lost his kingdom,And his power to harm and blight.Violet conquered, and his cold heartWarmed with music, love, and light;And his fair…

Happy children, fresh and rosy,Sang and sported freely there,Often turning friendly glances,Where, neglectful of them all,On his bed among the gray rocks,Mused the pale child, little Paul.For he never joined their pastimes,Never danced upon the sand,Only smiled upon them kindly,Only waved his wasted hand.Many a treasured gift they bore him,Best beloved among them all.Many a…

We are glad to see you here,For you sing ‘Sweet Spring is near.’Now the white snow melts away;Now the flowers blossom gay:Come dear bird and build your nest,For we love our robin best.

For the dear God who loveth us,He made and loveth all.’

Around it wistful sunbeams quiver,But Music’s airy voice is fled.Spring mourns as for untimely frost;The bluebird chants a requiem;The willow-blossom waits for him;The Genius of the wood is lost.’Then from the flute, untouched by hands,There came a low, harmonious breath:‘For such as he there is no death;His life the eternal life commands;Above man’s aims his…

Smiling with her mild face,Though the ocean frown.Clouds may dim her brightness,But soon they pass away,And she shines out, unaltered,O’er the little waves at play.So ‘mid the storm or sunshine,Wherever she may go,Led on by her hidden powerThe wild see must plow.As the tranquil evening moonLooks on that restless sea,So a mother’s gentle face,Little child,…

Drives his white flocks from the sky;Now the flowers restOn their mother’s breast,Hushed by her low lullaby.Now the glowworms glance,Now the fireflies dance,Under fern-boughs green and high;And the western breezeTo the forest treesChants a tuneful lullaby.Now ‘mid shadows deepFalls blessed sleep,Like dew from the summer sky;And the whole earth dreams,In the moon’s soft beams,While night…

I would be trebled twenty times myself;A thousand times more fair,Ten thousand times more rich.’