f yellow sheaves,
Nor any scent that Spring-time can amass
And Summer squander, such a magic has
As scent of fresh wet earth and fallen leaves.

For sometimes lovers in November days,
When earth is grieving for the vanished sun,
Have trod dead leaves in chill and wintry ways,
And kissed and dreamed eternal Summer won;
Look back, look back! through memories' deepening haze,
See--two who dreamed that dream, and you were one.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE LOVER TO HIS LASS.

Dearest, the Winter is here!
"It will be sad," so you said,
"When no green leaves overhead
Shadow the paths where we tread!"
I said "It still will be dear
If we still meet,
O my sweet!"

See how the seasons are kind!
See this December forget
How to be weary and wet!
Hardly our June I regret,
Winter so comely I find
Since you are here,
O my dear!

Sweetheart, I sometimes believe,
Love, not the sun, makes us glad;
Even the mists were not sad
If your soft hand-clasp I had.
Hearts sing, though skies mourn and grieve,
All weather's fair
If you're there!

Someday a home there shall be,
Love shall be sun of it, sweet!
Joy shall be full and complete--
Sound of small voices and feet;
While, like the sunshine, for me,
You light up life--
You--my wife!

BEFORE PARTING.

Now surely is the hour come for farewell,
Now, with the lessened light and darkened days.
Who now would tread the wild hill's pathless ways?
We found so fair when Spring and Summer's spell
Made blind our hearts this parting to foretell.
Yet why, while wan and wintry sunlight stays
On perished gold of Autumn fields, delays
Your heart to speak, while both our hearts rebel?
Together we have gathered through the year
All that the year could give us of its best,
Is it not meet our parting should be here,
Now in the season drear of death and rest?
Yet since together we its joys have known
How shall each meet the strange New Year alone.

_Caris Brooke._

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

[Illustration: The End]

[Illustration]

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of All Round the Year, by
Edith Nesbit and Saretta Nesbit (AKA Caris Brooke)

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALL ROUND THE YEAR ***

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