THE QRCLE OF THE SEASONS, 



It is the time of life and light 



When Summer floods the hill and plain" 



With blooming flowers and waving grain; 

 When daytim.e stretches into night ; 

 O happy days of fruit and grass 



That ripen in the Summer's rays ! 

 And then before we know, they pass. 



And yet the death of Summer days 

 Brings back the breath of Autumn's morn; 



Brings us the meadows hung in haze; 

 The bursting bun ; the ripened corn ; 



The misty woodlands all ablaze, 

 That laugh the Summer's tints to scorn. 



Now Autumn breezes seem to sing 



Of cosmos and cr3^santhemum ; 



How soon the evening shadows come! 

 The Summer birds are taking wing; 



The squirrel laying in his store; 

 Hark ! on the stillness, hear the ring 



Of flails upon the threshing floor ! 



Then from the regions of the north 



The Storm-king's hosts come trooping forth. 



While ice, and snow, and sleet, and rain 



Attend, and follow in his train. 

 At last impatient of his sway 

 The Prince of Springtime waxes wroth, 

 And gathering strength from day to day. 

 He hurls his forces to the fray. 

 The blow of Winter's death is dealt. 

 And Lo ! the glow of Spring is felt. 

 The snow and ice of Winter melt. 

 Cold rivers rise in icy beds ; 

 The floods lift up their hoary heads ; 

 Through bursting banks, and rifting floes 

 The raging torrent seaward goes. 



Then barren wastes of field and stream. 

 That long in Winter's clutch have lain, 



Confess the Springtime is supreme. 

 And Earth rejoices once again. 



— N. Allen Stockton. 



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