LESSON 12 THE SUNSHINE

THE SUNSHINE

MARY HOWITT (1799-1888), wrote poems and stories, and translated Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales .

I LOVE the sunshine everywhere—

In wood, and field, and glen;

I love it in the busy haunts

Of town-imprisoned men.

I love it, when it streameth in

The humble cottage door,

And casts the chequered casement shade [1]

Upon the red-brick floor.

I love it, where the children lie

Deep in the clovery grass,

To watch among the twining roots

The gold-green beetle pass.

I love it, on the breezy sea,

To glance on sail and oar,

While the great waves, like molten glass,

Come leaping to the shore.

I love it, on the mountain tops.

Where lies the thawless [2] snow;

And half a kingdom, bathed in light,

Lies stretching out below.

KINDNESS LIKE SUNSHINE

O! yes, I love the sunshine!

Like kindness, or like mirth,

Upon a human countenance,

Is sunshine on the earth.

Upon the earth—upon the sea—

And through the crystal air [3] —

Or piled-up clouds—the gracious sun

Is gracious everywhere.

—MARY HOWITT

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[1] chequered casement shade: The shadow of the diamond-paned window frame on the floor.

[2] thawless: Never melting.

[3] crystal air: Air clear as glass.