LESSON 20

FREAKS OF THE FROST

霜之奇想

By Hannah Flagg Gould, who was born at Lancaster, Vermont, in 1789. She published several volumes of poems (one for children) and one collection of prose articles, entitled "Gathered Leaves." She died in 1865.

1．The Frost looked forth one still, clear night,

And whispered, "Now I shall 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⁽¹⁾ train,

The wind and the snow, the hail and the rain,

Who make so much bustle⁽²⁾ and noise in vain,

But I'll be as busy as they."

2．Then he flew to the mountain, and powdered its crest⁽³⁾;

He lit on the trees, and their boughs he dressed

In diamond beads; and over the breast

Of the quivering⁽⁴⁾ lake, he spread

A coat of mail, that it need not fear

The downward point of many a spear,

That he hung on its margin⁽⁵⁾, far and near,

Where a rock could rear its head.

3．He went to the windows of those who slept,

And over each pane, like a fairy, crept;

Wherever he breathed, wherever he stepped,

By the light of the morn were seen

Most beautiful things; there were flowers and trees;

There were bevies⁽⁶⁾ of birds, and swarms of bees;

There were cities with temples and towers, and these

All pictured⁽⁷⁾ in silver sheen⁽⁸⁾.

4．But he did one thing that was hardly fair;

He peeped in the cupboard, and, finding there

That all had forgotten for him to prepare,

"Now just to set them a-thinking,

I'll bite this basket of fruit," said he,

"This costly pitcher I'll burst in three;

And the glass of water they've left for me

Shall 'tchick!' to tell them I'm drinking."

EXERCISES.—What did the frost say? What did he do to the mountain? The trees? The lake? What is a "coat of mail"? What did he do to the window? The pitcher?