gladden

This word came to me as my heart felt 
a bit gladdened.

from the 1828 dictionary which includes a sentence: 

GLAD'DEN, v.t. glad'n. To make glad; to cheer; to please; to exhilarate. The news of peace gladdens our hearts.
Churches will every where gladden his eye, and hymns of praise vibrate upon his ear.

GLAD'DEN, v.i. glad'n. To become glad; to rejoice.
So shall your country ever gladden at the sound of your voice.

from the Etymology dictionary: c. 1300, "to be glad;"

There is your English lesson! 
It is raining outside. All afternoon there has been a hum of rain falling.
I can't remember when the world was brown. Totally green now. 
Thinking upon the word : gladden


 owls and elderberries tumblr

Spring

BY GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS

Nothing is so beautiful as Spring –         

   When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;         

   Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush         

Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring         

The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;

   The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush         

   The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush         

With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.         

What is all this juice and all this joy?         

   A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning

In Eden garden. – Have, get, before it cloy,         

   Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,         

Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,         

   Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.