Farewell To Summer

Summer is fading; the broad leaves that grew ' So freshly green when June was young, are falling; I And all the whisper-haunted f orest through The restless birds in fcaddened tones are j ing From rustling hazel copse and tangled dell : ', "Farewell, sweet nummer, Fragrant, fruity summer, Sweet farewell !" Upon the windy hills, in many a field, The honey-bees ham low above the clover, Gleaning the latest sweets its blooms may ' yield, And, kno wing that their harvest time is over, Hing, halí a lullaby and half a knell: "Farewell, sweet summer, Honey-laden summer, Sweet farewell!" The little brook that babbles mid the ferns, O'er twisted roots and sandy shallows playing, Seems fain to linger in its eddied turns, And with a plaintive, purling voioe is saying, Sadder and sweeter than my song can teil: "Farewell, sweet summer, Warm and dreamy summer, Sweet farewell!" The fitful breeze sweeps down the winding With gold and crimson leaves before it flying; lts gusty laughter h& no sound of pain, But in the lulls it sinks to gentle sighing, And mourns the summer' early broken spell- "Farewell, sweet summer, Rosy, blooming summer, Sweet farewell!" 80 bird and bee and brook and breeze make moan, With melancholy song their loss complaining; í, too, must join them, as I walk alone ' Among the sights and Rouuds of summer s wauing; I, too, have loved the seaaons passing well- So farewell. summer, Fair but faded summer, Sweet farewell!