THE CHINA STAR 



y E. c. 



'Twas late in Autumn — every trace of Summer, 

 Had faded from the landscape long ago ! 



The half-froze streamlet, moved with slow, sad murmur- 

 The withered leaves were flying to and fro 



Before the dreary, shrill, unpitying blast ; 



And all the sky above with clouds were overcast ! 



I looked abroad — and o'er my senses stealing 



A desolation like to Nature's came — 

 A cold, forsaken, emptiness of feeling. 



Which we can better understand than name ! 

 'Twas, as if all I loved, at once had fled — 

 The birds, the fields, the flowers, were unto me as dead. 



Towards my loved garden with sad footstep straying, 

 I turned to gaze, as on the face of death ! 



An early snow to Earth each shrub was weighing. 



And all looked blighted by the Autumn's breath ; 



Not all, for there, half-hid by covering pale, 



A China Star blushed, like bride beneath her veil. 



