Hie to haunts right seldom seen, Hie away, hie away! SIR WALTER SCOTT. * 20 * WINTER. OLD Winter is a sturdy one, He spreads his coat upon the heath,1 He scouts 2 the thought of aching teeth, Of flowers that bloom, or birds that sing, Full little cares or knows he; He hates the fire, and hates the Spring, And all that's warm and cosey. But when the foxes bark aloud When round the fire the people crowd, 1 heath, an open waste tract of land. 2 scouts, sneers or laughs at. When frost is splitting stone and wall, His home is by the North Pole's strand,1 Now from the North he's hither hied * 21 * FROM THE GERMAN. HARVEST-HOME. HARK! from woodlands far away Never fear the wintry blast, Summer suns will shine at last; 1 strand, shore, beach of the sea. 2 cower, shrink, or crouch. roundelay, a song in which the passages or parts are repeated. russet, reddish-brown. 5 wain, wagon. 6 harvest-home, time of bringing home the harvest. See the golden grain appear, Children join the jocund1 ring, Greet the reapers as they come Peace and plenty be our lot, * 22 * THE FOUR SEASONS. SPRING. SPRING day, happy day! God hath made the earth so gay! Every herb to grow he maketh. When the pretty lambs are springing, 1 jocund, merry, 2 blithe (pron. 'blith,'—th as in 'this'), joyful. SUMMER. Summer day, sultry day! AUTUMN. Autumn day, fruitful day! See what God hath given away! Opens wide his bounteous hand. WINTER. Winter day, frosty day! God a cloak on all doth lay; On the earth the snow he sheddeth; 1 noontide, noon-time, mid-day. 2 cornfield, field of wheat or other grain. 3 wains, wagons. 4 wending, going. She loved them as only a mother loves, There were no little birds more happy than they, In their home in the chosen tree. Tut one of this little family Grew tired of his mother's care; He sat all day in a sullen mood, And nought to him was fair. For the heart of this little bird was changed, II. Ah me! there is not a brighter home But he fled away, and he sported awhile But when night came on, he was weary and cold, Ah! then he thought of his mother's wing, And his little brothers, so happy and good, |