Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: DOWN UPON THE OLD PLANTATION. O, THE balmy southern spring Down upon the old plantation ! Where the skies their grace renew, Tempest-washed to deeper hue 'Till a shimmering vault of blue Arches over hill and dale. Who could mourn the winter's wrath As he views its chastened path Blooming forth more sweet and hale ! Everywhere there meets the eye Loveliness beyond relation; Nothing but the pine-trees sigh Down upon the old plantation. DOWN UPON THE OLD PLANTA TlOJf. 17 Dimpled pleasure smiles at care Down upon the old plantation. Lisping zephyrs every hour, Laugh above some new-born flower. Wood and field are beauty's dower. Every echo speaks of bliss. Where is any nook for grief When each fragrant flower and leaf Lures the sunlight with a kiss ! Far and near there greet the ear Sweetest sounds in all creation, Naught but night e'er sheds a tear Down upon the old plantation. Half the joys can ne'er be told Down upon the old plantation. Lofty pines and spicy bays, Zig-zag fences, woodland ways, Birds and bees and jasmine sprays Offer joys that never wane. DOWN UPON THE OLD PLANTA TION. Swinging in the muscadine Not for Lethe's cup I pine, Fame and fortune tempt in vain. Who would wish afar to roam With such scenes for contemplation ? O, there is no place like home, Down upon the old plantation! THE CHEROKEE ROSE. Come ripple your fleetest, O rhymes that are meetest, In praise of the sweetest Wild blossom that blows. Though tripping most lightly, And pattering brightly, Ye ne'er can sing rightly The Cherokee rose. The zephyr that kisses Its petals hath blisses That paradise misses And seraph ne'er knows. So charming its face is, I long to change places With bee that embraces ...