SUMMER. HER EYELIDS DROPPED THEIR SILKEN EAVES - I STOOD TIPTOE UPON A LITTLE HILL HERE HAPPY WOULD THEY STRAY IN SUMMER HOURS AROUND THE ADJOINING BROOK, THAT PURLS ALONG TO ONE WHO HAS BEEN LONG IN CITY PENT AND SOON, OBSERVANT OF APPROACHING DAY THY FRUIT FULL WELL THE SCHOOL-BOY KNOWS BEHOLD THE SHADES OF AFTERNOON HAVE FALLEN TEARS, IDLE TEARS, I KNOW NOT WHAT THEY MEAN THERE WAS NOT, ON THAT DAY, A SPECK TO STAIN THE SUN, WHOSE EASTERN RAY HAD SCARCELY GILT FIT COUCH OF REPOSE FOR A PILGRIM LIKE THEE! SEASON OF MISTS AND MELLOW FRUITFULNESS! THOU COMEST, AUTUMN, HERALDED BY THE RAIN THE PALE DESCENDING YEAR, YET PLEASING STILL KEEN BLOWS THE BLAST, OR CEASELESS RAIN DESCENDS SEE! WINTER COMES, TO RULE THE VARIED YEAR WHEN NOW, UNSPARING AS THE SCOURGE OF WAR FOR EVERY SHRUB AND EVERY BLADE OF GRASS TO-MORROW BRINGS A CHANGE,— -A TOTAL CHANGE! SPRING. COME FORTH, O YE CHILDREN OF GLADNESS! COME IN THE BARN THE TENANT COCK TO GATHER KINGCUPS IN THE YELLOW MEAD LET US WALK WHERE REEDS ARE GROWING THESE CRYSTAL STREAMS SHOULD SOLACE ME SUMMER. HER EYELIDS DROPPED THEIR SILKEN EAVES A VARIOUS GROUP THE HERDS AND FLOCKS COMPOSE AUTUMN. HARVEST NOW HATH SENT HER LAST, LAST LOAD I SEE A COLUMN OF SLOW-RISING SMOKE FIT COUCH OF REPOSE FOR A PILGRIM LIKE THEE ! HE SWEEPS HIS HEARTH, AND HOMEWARD LOOKS IN VAIN WINTER. TROD THE PURE VIRGIN SNOWS, MYSELF AS PURE THEN, HOPPING ON THE FLOOR, EYES ALL THE FAMILY E. DUNCAN 89 93 97 Lithographed by Mr. Brandard, Mr. Picken, and Mr. Coventry, and printed in Colours by Messrs. M. and N. Hanhart, and Messrs. Day and Son. viii |