IJI.
Ts:B sun is set; the swa.llows are aaleep ,.
The bats are fiitting fllo8t in the gray air ;
The slow soft toads out of damp corners creep ;
And evening's breath, wandering here and there
Over tht> quivering surface of the stream,
Wake.s not one ripple from its summer dream.
There are no dews on the dry grass to-night,
Nor damp within the shadow of the trees;
The wind is intermitting, dry, and light;
And in the inconstnnt motion of the breeze
The dust and straws :u·e driven up and down,
And whirl'd nbout the pavement of the town.
The cha.am in which the sun ha.a sunk, is shut
By darkest bo.I'l'iera of enormous cloud,
Like mountain over mountain huddled-but
Growiu~ and moving upwards in a ct·owd,
.And over 1t a space of watery blue,
Which the keen evening stur ia shining through.
- SHELLEY.
«gt 'b&ning Jont.
SWJJET Evening hour! sweet Evening hour I
That calma the air and shuts the flower;
That bribga the wild-bee to ita neat-
The infant io its mother's brl!ast.
Sweet hour I that bids the lAbourer cea.ae,
That gives the weary team relea.se,
.And leads them home, llnd crowns them there
With rest and shelter, food aud care.
0 seMon of sort sounds and hues,
Of twilight walks among the dews;
Of feelings calm and converse sweet,
And tho1tghta too shadowy to repeat I
Ye9, lovely hour! thou art the time
Wben feelings flow and wishes climb;
When timid souls be&in to dat·e,
..And God receives ann answers prayer.