| |
| THE FROST looked forth, one still, clear night, | |
| And he said, “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 like that blustering train, | 5 |
| The wind and the snow, the hail and the rain, | |
| Who make so much bustle and noise in vain, | |
| But I ’ll be as busy as they!” | |
| |
| Then he went to the mountain, and powdered its crest, | |
| He climbed up the trees, and their boughs he dressed | 10 |
| With diamonds and pearls, and over the breast | |
| Of the quivering 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, far and near, | 15 |
| Where a rock could rear its head. | |
| |
| 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 moon were seen | 20 |
| Most beautiful things. There were flowers and trees, | |
| There were bevies of birds and swarms of bees, | |
| There were cities, thrones, temples, and towers, and these | |
| All pictured in silver sheen! | |
| |
| But he did one thing that was hardly fair,— | 25 |
| 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, | 30 |
| And the glass of water they ’ve left for me | |
| Shall ‘tchick!’ to tell them I ’m drinking.” | |
| |
