WINTER STORES

    We take from life one little share, And say that this shall be A space, redeemed¹ from toil² and care, From tears and sadness free.

    And, haply, Death unstrings his bow, And Sorrow stands apart, And, for a little while, we know The sunshine of the heart.

    Existence seems a summer eve, Warm, soft, and full of peace, Our free, unfettered feelings give The soul its full release.

    A moment, then, it takes the power To call up thoughts that throw Around that charmed and hallowed hour, This life's divinest glow.

    But Time, though viewlessly it flies, And slowly, will not stay； Alike, through clear and clouded skies, It cleaves³ its silent way.

    Alike the bitter cup of grief, Alike the draught⁴ of bliss⁵, Its progress leaves but moment brief For baffled lips to kiss

    The sparkling draught is dried away, The hour of rest is gone, And urgent voices, round us, say, "Ho, lingerer, hasten on！"

    And has the soul, then, only gained, From this brief time of ease, A moment's rest, when overstrained, One hurried glimpse of peace？

    No； while the sun shone kindly⁶ o'er us, And flowers bloomed round our feet,—— While many a bud of joy before us Unclosed its petals⁷ sweet,-

    An unseen work within was plying⁸； Like honey-seeking bee, From flower to flower, unwearied, flying, Laboured one faculty,-

    Thoughtful for Winter's future sorrow, Its gloom and scarcity⁹； Prescient to-day, of want to-morrow, Toiled¹⁰ quiet Memory.

    'Tis she that from each transient pleasure Extracts a lasting¹¹ good； 'Tis she that finds, in summer, treasure To serve for winter's food.

    And when Youth's summer day is vanished, And Age brings Winter's stress, Her stores, with hoarded¹² sweets replenished¹³, Life's evening hours will bless.