With gentle and skilful hand, He took its proportions, with looks of pleasure, As if you were giving the costliest treasure, Or dubbing him lord of the land.

And many a one did he save from getting A fever, or cold or cough: For many a sole did he save from wetting, When, whether in water or snow 'twas setting, His shoeing would keep them off

And when he had done with his making and mending, With hope and a peaceful breast, Resigning his awl, as his thread was ending, He slid from his bench, to the grave descending, As high as a king to rest!

=The Snow-Storm=

It snows! it snows! from out the sky The feathered flakes, how fast they fly, Like little birds, that don't know why They're on the chase, from place to place, While neither can the other trace!

It snows, it snows! a merry play Is o'er us, on this sombre day.

As dancers in time's airy hall, That not a moment holds them all, While some keep up, and others fall, The atoms shift; then, thick and swift, They drive along to form the drift, That weaving up, so dazzling white, Is rising like a wall of light.

But now the wind comes, whistling loud, To s.n.a.t.c.h and waft it, as a cloud, Or giant phantom in a shroud.

It spreads,--it curls,--it mounts and whirls; At length a mighty wing unfurls; And then, away!--but where, none knows, Or ever will.--It snows! it snows!

To-morrow will the storm be done; Then out will come the golden sun!

And we shall, we shall see, upon the run Before his beams, in sparkling streams, What now a curtain o'er him seems.

And thus, with life it ever goes;-- 'Tis shade and shine! It snows, it snows!

=The Whirlwind=

Whirlwind, Whirlwind, whither art thou hieing, Snapping off the flowers young and fair;-- Setting all the chaff and the withered leaves a-flying,-- Tossing up the dust in the air?

"I," said the Whirlwind, "cannot stop for talking!

Give me up your cap, my little man; And the polished stick, that you will not need for walking.

While you run to catch them, if you can!

"You, pretty maiden--none has time to tell her I am coming, ere I shall be there.

I will twirl her zephyr--s.n.a.t.c.h her light umbrella, Seize her hat, and snarl her glossy hair!"

On went the Whirlwind, showing many capers One would hardly deem it meet to tell;-- Dusting Judge and Parson--flirting gown and papers,-- Discomposing matron, beau and belle.

"Whisk!" from behind came the long and sweeping feather, Round the head of old Chanticleer:-- Plumed and plumeless biped felt gust together, In a way they wouldn't like to hear.

Snug in his arbor sat a scholar, musing Calmly o'er the philosophic page: "Flap!" went the leaves of the volume he was using, Cutting short the lecture of the sage.

"Hey!" said the bookworm, "this I think is taking Rather too much liberty with me!

Yet I'll not resent it; being bent on making Use of every thing I hear and see.

"Many, I know, will not their anger stifle, When as little cause as this, they find To let it kindle up; but minding every trifle Is profitless as quarrels with the wind.

"Forth to his business when the Whirlwind sallies, He is all alive to get it done;-- He on his pathway never lags nor dallies; But is ever up, and on the run.

"Though ever whirling, never growing dizzy; Motion gives him buoyancy and power.

All who have known him own that he is busy, Doing much in half a fleeting hour.

"Oh! there is nothing--when our work's before us,-- Like _despatch;_ for, while our time is brief, Some sweeping blast may suddenly come o'er us, Lose our place, and turn another leaf!

"Whirlwind, Whirlwind, though you're but a flurry, And so odd the business you pursue;-- Though you come on, and are off, in such a hurry, I have caught a hint; and now adieu!"

=The Disobedient Skater Boys=

Said William to George, "It is New-Year's day!

And now for the pond and the merriest play!

So, on with your cap; and away, away, We'll off for a frolic and slide, Be quick--be quick, if you would not be chid For doing what father and mother forbid; And under your coat let the skates be hid; Then over the ice we'll glide."

They're up, and they're off; on their run-away feet They fasten the skates, when, away they fleet, Far over the pond, and beyond retreat, Unconscious of danger near.

But lo! the ice is beginning to bend-- It cracks--it cracks--and their feet descend!

To whom can they look as a helper--a friend?

Their faces are pale with fear.

In their flight to the pond, they had caught the eye Of a neighboring peasant, who, lingering nigh, Aware of their danger, and hearing their cry, Now hastens to give them aid.

As home they are brought, all dripping and cold, To all who their piteous plight behold, The worst of the story is plainly told-- Their parents were disobeyed!

=Winter and Spring=

"Adieu!" Father Winter sadly said To the world, when about withdrawing, With his old white wig half off his head, And his icicle fingers thawing;--

"Adieu! I'm going to the rocks and caves, And must leave all here behind me; Or perhaps I shall sink in the Northern waves, So deep that none can find me."

"Good luck! good luck, to your h.o.a.ry locks!"

Said the gay young Spring, advancing; "You may take your rest 'mid the caves and rocks, While I o'er the earth am dancing.

"But there is not a spot where you have trod.

You hard, old clumsy fellow,-- Not a hill, nor a field, nor a single sod, But I must make haste to mellow.

"I then shall carpet them o'er with gra.s.s, To look so bright and cheering, That none will regret having let you pa.s.s Far out of sight and hearing.

"The fountains that you locked up so tight, When I shall give them a sunning, Will sparkle and play in my warmth and light, And the streams set off to running.

"I'll speak in the earth to the palsied root, That under your reign was sleeping; I'll teach it the way in the dark to shoot, And draw out the vine to creeping.

"The boughs that you cased so close in ice, It was chilling e'en to behold them, I'll deck all over with buds so nice; My breath can alone unfold them.

"And when all the trees are with blossoms drest, The bird, with her song so merry, Will come to the branches to build her nest, With a view to the future cherry.

"The earth will show by her loveliness, The wonders that I am doing; While the skies look down with a smile, to bless The way that I'm pursuing!"