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Show j THE FORSAKEN NEST. J ii y Wil. OILL MILI-s. By my wkdo there grows an tpple ir-e, lu hracthes are high and ftrung; Its million leaves were a gratet'al thade To tli'! fuailn-rtd Iriuj ol'torg; I rj-w nut their work, but ihey jams and went, V ith lli--ir rnuiic and airy spirt: Had they a ado of my tre a ejmtant home, Or a pleasant summer resort? Etq autumn had made its leafy grave, From orchard and lore t mrewo, I mi-3-.d tneir play and cheery lo.u For tliu birds away had ll wn. Amid the ciirei t ray trying life i 1 Orgt Uial they liid beuii ttiere, Till the eirly blasts of the winter limo llal laid the lice all bare. One morn I looked up lo ih) leOe-B iree, And saw, t my sad -surprise, A I'jrsakon uesv, whore a brood had been reared, High and sale from prying flye. "Ah me," 1 murmured, "tbeir common talO With tho human wo moy diseorn; A few brief days and away we piss, And may m-ver more return." In pensive mood in my chair I rec inod, and gazed on Hie prospect drear; When by eportivo wings and chirruping notes 1 knew there were vUitanle near; 1 louki'd to iho old forsaken utst, On the branches high and bare, And I saw two lilllo Oirda merrily piny Again al Ihtir uir-ganictj lliore. Thoy How lb rough tho branches around and around; They kiiiudin thtir lligbt and caressed; Th y aeeined fill of joy ul thuir visit aain, As Ihey hopped in and out of tho nest; Eveh sat in alone, nil n both together, They sang tho old notes o'er and o'er; Tho noft, and thrt tree, a .d iho socg llicy reviewed, Then lied oil', and I saw Rem no more. And a?, wlion we p:i b from our dear earth-honio, And thescotiei oT beauty wo lovtd, From those that live doop, deep down in our li curls, Whoso ROJdnefs and friendship wo provid; May we not return from our Fpirit's abado And visit our Loidcb again? And cheer tho dear ones that I'm tor liere, Or soolh iheir sorrow and piio? Tbolit'.'.o birds from their die last flight lieturnei to their nativo nest, For tho lovo of their early, frugile home Lingered still in ouch liny breast; I And wo, who aro mado of earth and heaven, Of deathless inattor and soul, ilny wing our tlight and visit at will When the spirit has full control. Salt Lako City, February, 1879. |