The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-03-29
THE JOURNAL.
THE GIFT OF WINTER.


We give below a poem, published in the
Coshocton Democrat, which was written by
S. NJ. Crothers of Springfield, boy of four
teen years, who has given the most won
derful evidences of genius. He is student,
attending college, and as VIC learn, gave
thepoem to chum who resides in Coshocton
The poem is remarkable, not only for the
versifcation but for the poetical thought and
glowing cOlOrs SO finely expressed. Many
poems are bound in blue and gold which have
not half the merit of this one:
The world was new, and unsettled as vet,
When "Old Time" called the Seasons, and said.
when they met,
10 which of ye all assembled here
Shall L give the first days of the new born
yesr?"
And as they heard, each Season smiled
And cried "give me the beautiful child
But old Time laughed and said, "Sweet Spring
What gifts to the young year would YOU
bringF"
And Spring slept forth and said, "Father, hear,
Ii to me you will give the bright new year,
In cradles of rosrbuds, I'll rock it to sleep,
And out of its pillows shall violets peep;
I'll deck it with daisies, I'll crown it with light
If you give it to me the new wear will be
bright"
Then old Time smiled, but shook his head,
As he heard what the beautiful maiden said:
Springs gifts are good, now let us hear
What Summer would give to delight the new
Year"
And Summer said: "If you will give it to me,
The first days of the year will the happiest be,
The genius of flowers to it fragrance will bear,
And the incense of roses will laden the air;
Birds of bright plumage will lulIabies sing,
While each gentle breeze will new happiness
bring;
Bright sunbeams will glitter, like gold all
around,
And lilies like pearls will cover the ground,
And the hills and the mountains all sparkling
in light,
viii each struggle to add to the new years
delight"
Summers gifts are good, let Autumn tell,
Her gifts to the new year loved SO well:p
Then Autumn said, "Let the year be mine
And its childhood will pass like dream divine.
necklace Of golden grain it shall wear,
And the ripe fruits of Autumn it ever shall
share
Like the crimson clouds when the sun is low,
Shall the brilliant leaves around it blow,
Like the flying mists when the sun shall arise,
All trouble shall vanish before its eyes;
For the falling leaves and garnered grain
VIII bid the new year Danish PAIN
Gan your gifts are good" old Father Time
cried,
And which Is the best it is hard to decide
But holdl I'd forgot you, old Winter wild,
What claim have you on the beautiful childP'
Then the Seasons laughed, for Winter was old,
And Winter hand was chill and cold,
And Winters touch was like that of Death.
And the flowers wilted before his breath
So the Seasons laughed that he should appear,
To claim the first days of the bright new year.
Then Winter said, 81 have little to give,
But give me the child and I'll teach it to live,
No soft bed of roses will woo it to sleep.
No angels of howrets, their vigils will keep,
But blankets of snow will be spread Ger the
ground,
And the sturdy North wind will keep guard
all around,
And I'll crown it with icicles pure and bright,
And I'll clothe it with snow-fakes spotless
white.
And the streams though bound in fetters of
glass,
viii sparkle in beauty when the new year
shall pass.
And the "FrOst-King" will trace dainty i'm
agery there,
And build for the New Year bright castles in
the air.
And even the snow storm will join in its plays
While Truth, Justice and Purity guard its fir t
days.
Then old Time cried, "though winter be wild,
To winter belongs the beautiful child.
For Winters gifts are the purest and best,
Let the child year" in cradles of icicles rest"
And as they looked on each Season smiled
And cried, ''the new Year is Winters child"
And while the snow and ice are here,
Let every one pray for happy New Year
3