The Snow! The Snow!

The Snow ! the Snow ! how boautifu} It ialls on hill and plain, And weaves a sliroud for Slimmer liours That wuí iiot come again. Eaoh tiny flake that parts the air, With measured sweep and slow, ïleyeals amiri its beauty rare, A geni no king can show. The Snow ! the Snow! How boautiful The fields are heaped wilh white, Where'erst the Slimmer breezes swept, When trees with leaves were bright ; But now with naked branches lossed, They rear their giant forms, And breast with stern and lV;ir.-ss hearts The Winter's blasts aud storras. The Snow ! the Snow ! How bright and fair It gems the valley wide, As sweeping on before the wind Like ocean's restless tide, It twines amid the withered leaves That mark the Autumn sere, And weayes a sad and faded wreath To bind the dying year, The Snow ! the Snow ! How light it falls. As erst in otlier hours, Ere childhood's hopos had passed away, Or withered youth's gay flowers'; Each crystal tlake seems some past joy Tiiat cheered the morning beam, Then faded ere the light of noon Feil on the glidipg stream. Tho Snow ! the Snow ! how beauiiful It falls on hill and plain. And weaves a shroud for Slimmer hours That will not come again. Stern Winter binds the sunn.y streams That rippled sweet and !ow, And covers earth with fleecy robe, The pure and spotless Snow !