Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/202
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FROST.
Nay, sure, 'tis more than earthly bliss, here, thus
To hold communion with my heavenly Father.
Witness this heart, with gratitude o'ercharged,
Which pleads and presses to present its thanks:
Witness these tears which thus uncalled obtrude,
And half congealed, fall to the frozen earth,
An humble offering at the throne of grace:
Witness this sweet, serene, and holy calm,
At once bespeaking and befitting for
The presence of my Maker, semblance faint
Of happiness to come, when bliss supreme
Shall be the portion of these ransomed saints,
Who through eternity shall join to raise
Loud hallelujahs to their heavenly King.
To hold communion with my heavenly Father.
Witness this heart, with gratitude o'ercharged,
Which pleads and presses to present its thanks:
Witness these tears which thus uncalled obtrude,
And half congealed, fall to the frozen earth,
An humble offering at the throne of grace:
Witness this sweet, serene, and holy calm,
At once bespeaking and befitting for
The presence of my Maker, semblance faint
Of happiness to come, when bliss supreme
Shall be the portion of these ransomed saints,
Who through eternity shall join to raise
Loud hallelujahs to their heavenly King.
Frost.
The frost looked forth one still clear night,
And he said—"I shall soon be out of sight,
So through the valley, and over the height,
In silence I'll take my way.
I will not go on like that blustering train,
The wind and the snow, the hail and the rain,
Who make so much bustle and noise in vain,
But I'll be as busy as they."
And he said—"I shall soon be out of sight,
So through the valley, and over the height,
In silence I'll take my way.
I will not go on like that blustering train,
The wind and the snow, the hail and the rain,
Who make so much bustle and noise in vain,
But I'll be as busy as they."
Then he went to the mountain, and powdered its crest,
He climbed up the trees, and their boughs he drest
With diamonds and pearls, and over the breast
Of the quivering lake he spread
A coat of mail, that it might not fear
The downward point of many a spear,
Which he hung on the margin far and near
Where a rock could rear its head.
He climbed up the trees, and their boughs he drest
With diamonds and pearls, and over the breast
Of the quivering lake he spread
A coat of mail, that it might not fear
The downward point of many a spear,
Which he hung on the margin far and near
Where a rock could rear its head.
He went to the windows of those who slept,
And over each pane, like a fairy, crept;
Wherever he breathed, wherever he stept,
By the light of the moon were seen
Most beautiful things; there were flowers and trees,
There were bevies of birds and swarms of bees,
There were cities, thrones, temples, and towns—and these
All pictured in silver sheen.
And over each pane, like a fairy, crept;
Wherever he breathed, wherever he stept,
By the light of the moon were seen
Most beautiful things; there were flowers and trees,
There were bevies of birds and swarms of bees,
There were cities, thrones, temples, and towns—and these
All pictured in silver sheen.
But he did one thing that was hardly fair—
He went to the cupboard, and, finding there
That all had forgotten for him to prepare;
"Now, just to set them thinking,
He went to the cupboard, and, finding there
That all had forgotten for him to prepare;
"Now, just to set them thinking,