TO THE SPRING.
Welcome, gentle Stripling,
Nature's darling, thou—
With thy basket full of blossoms,
A happy welcome now!
Aha!--and thou returnest,
Heartily we greet thee—
The loving and the fair one,
Merrily we meet thee!
Think'st thou of my Maiden
In thy heart of glee?
I love her yet the Maiden—
And the Maiden yet loves me!
For the Maiden, many a blossom
I begg'd—and not in vain;
I came again, a-begging,
And thou—thou giv'st again:
Welcome, gentle stripling,
Nature's darling thou—
With thy basket full of blossoms,
A happy welcome, now!