| Show f TO dil oil FARMERS iii AND GARDENERS GARDENER 4 THE WINTERS BT r rI B LANCES A S C E 8 LOWNE BROWSE ili we did not fear them once the tha dull gray morning mornings no cheerless burden on our spirits laid the iong ions night watches did not bring aa us warnings that we were tenants of a house decayed the early snows lne ine dreams to us descended the frost trost did f fairy mry work on pave and bough beauty and power and wonder have not ended how now Is thit we fear the winters now their house ires anres fall as bright briw on hearth and cha bm bers their Thir northern starlight shines as coldly clear the woods still keep their holly f for or december the world a welcome yet for tor the new year and far away in old remembered places the snowdrop snow drop rises and the robin sings the sun run and moon look out with loving f sees aces why have our days forgot such goodly things Is it now the north winds find us shaken by tempests fiercer than its bitter blast which fair beliefs and friendships too have taken away like summer foliage as they passed and made life le leafless atless in its pleasant valleys waning the light of promise from our day feti feci mists meet even in the inward place A dimness not like theirs to pass away it wag was not thus when dreams of love and laurels gave sunshine to the winters of our youth before its hopes had bad fallen in fortunes quarrels or time had bowed them with its heavy truth ere yet the twilights found us strange and lonely with shadows coming when the fire burns lowy low to tell of distant graves and losses only the past that cannot change and will not eo go alas aias dear friends the winter Is within us hard Is the ice fee that grows about the heart fon For petty cares and vain regrets have won na us from lifes true heritage and better part semons and skies rejoice cey cep yea yen worship rather but bat nations toll and nd tremble even as we hoping for the harvests they will never gather rather gat berj fearing the winter which they may not see |
