Across the hills the cattle call...

Across the hills the cattle call,

As black the boding shadows fall;

Zigzag the lightning writes its message

That's thundered forth from the mountain wall.

From out the overhanging frown

The loosened rain comes rattling down!

The swallow's gone, the daisy cowers —

But joy to fields in their tan and brown!

The burnished cypher of the sky

Now lets the loud-tongued thunder die.

Nature's delight, a timeless rapture,

Glows in her face and rekindled eye.