Flowers grow in sweet societies

Verse 1

Flowers grow in sweet societies, O'er meadow, hill, and dale; Mingle their colours to our eyes, Their perfumes in the gale.

Verse 2

Sprung from the dust, they rise above The meanness of their birth; They look to heaven, and yet they love To beautify the earth.

Verse 3

Not birds more duly build and sing, Nor stars in turn appear, Than these their splendid legions bring, To crown and close the year.

Verse 4

They toil not, neither do they spin, And yet their Maker's will, Exempt from sorrow, as from sin, They live but to fulfil.

Verse 5

Ah! thus might He that made us see Our Sabbath Schools increase; And while we dwell in unity, In Him may we have peace;--

Verse 6

Like flowers from Him receive, dispense The fragrance of His grace; And when, like flowers, transplanted hence, May fairer fill our place.