The autumn tints of these loved hills
Outlined against the sky,
Are dearer far to me this year
Than in the years gone by;
For they are colors Nature wears
To celebrate the time
When her pet child changed life on earth
For that of heavenly clime.
She thus rejoices, while our hearts
Wear not their flowers of joy.
Alas! could she but give us back
Our gifted artist boy!
But then she sees that it was best
That he, like her, should know
Death, and the Resurrection too,
The fullest life to show.