Spring, in Three Voices

1st Voice.     Gaily over rock and river
2nd Voice.     Comes the day-god’s chariot bright,
3d Voice.      Leaflets on their branches quiver,
1st Voice.     Running waters, dancing ever,—
2nd Voice.     Pausing, turning backward never,—
3d Voice.      Sparkle in the morning lifht.
1st Voice.      The grass is springing,
2nd Voice.     The woods are ringing,
3d Voice.      The birds are singing,

                    As amid the leaves of green,
     All           And the sturdy boughs between
                    They their merry flight are winging.

1st Voice.     The wind its keen cold breath dismisses.
                    And now is wooing the earth with kisses;
2nd Voice.     The earth is giving, in return,
3d Voice.     The fragrance of the rose and fern.
1st Voice.     With the rising of the sun
2nd Voice.     Lo! The milk-maid’s task is done;
3d Voice.     And the cattle, one by one,
1st Voice.     With lowing
2nd Voice.     Are going,
3d Voice.     To the pasture far away; 

                    Brushing from the beaded grass
     All           The light dew-drops, as they pass,
                    And shaking with their heavy tread,
                    The gems from the sassafrass.

1st Voice.     The little Pee-dee
2nd Voice.     Is alone on his tree;
3d Voice.     Alone and gay, forever and aye,
1st Voice.     Alone and gay is he.
2nd Voice.     “Cheerily, cheerily
3d Voice.     See,—see—see,”—

     All           The brown thrush sings in the height of his glee.

1st Voice.     Caw!
2nd Voice.     Caw!
3d Voice.     Caw!
1st Voice.     Doth the old Crow cry;
2nd Voice.     And the blackbird’s varied melody
3d Voice.     Is as merrily ringing out hard by:

                    And all is beautiful and bright,
     All           And gay and light,
                    Over vale and height;—
                    Sweet to the ear and fair to the sight.