BERRYING

‘ May be true what I had heard,—

Earth's a howling wilderness,

Truculent with fraud and force,’

Said I, strolling through the pastures,

And along the river-side.

Caught among the blackberry vines,

Feeding on the Ethiops sweet,

Pleasant fancies overtook me.

I said,‘ What influence me preferred,

Elect, to dreams thus beautiful?’

The vines replied,‘ And didst thou deem

No wisdom from our berries went?’