DECEMBER. 
T||AST of all, December, 
' The year’s sands nearly ru 
Speeds 6n the shortest day, 
Curtails the sun ; 
With its.bleak raw wind 
Lays the last leaves low, 
Brings hack the nightly frosts, 
Brings back the snow. 
Christina. Rossetti. 
Full knee-deep lies the winter snow, 
And the winter winds are wearily sighing: 
Toll ye the church-bell sad and slow, 
And tread softly? and speak low, 
For the old year lies a-dying. 
T.ennys 
259 
