The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-07
@rainal Rothp.
Esr ne Democratic Adsocate.
Address to Departing Winter.

Old Winter. thou art fading fast,
Thy icy reign is DER atlast,
Thou hoary monarch. ne'er again
Thy ffosty yisage may sec;
50, err thy nOrihward flight be ta'en,
III say a parting word 70 thee;
Then lend an ear thou shadow gray,
And list to that which shall say
when first with frozen wings ouispread,
And snow-elouds round thy hoaFy head,
Thou, on the northern blast didst come
10 make these lands awhile thy home;
One morning, remember well,
From my son couch ir haste l sprung,
For all night long the fancy a swell
ofmusic thro my ears had rung,
And dreams Of leaves and fruits and flowers
And cool retreats, and shady bowers,
Had cloth'd with light my slumberIng hours,
And 50 In haste rose TO see,
Ifyct upon some sunny spot
Some lingering blossoms there might be,
That could gather carefully,
And keep, as foFgetme-not,
The dying year had LEFT tome.
Alas while brightly round my bed
Come scenes of summer soft and warm,
Thy frozen foot with ruthless tread
HAD pfce-cu u chftu tAcn AtlASAic Aoihif
and all that felt thy blasting breath,
Leaf, plant and flower. lay cold in death,
with tears mourn9d their feded glory,
And roundly cursed Thy fatal blast
And now in faith I'm truly sorry
That thou ant past
For thou hast been a loviAl fellow
Despite thy freezing, monkish eye;
Andsmiles grew bright, and wine grew mellow
While darker grew thy frOwning sky;
And while o'erhead with furious ire
Thy bowling stOrns would hercer blow,
Cheered by their soul enliyening fire
We moFtals merrier grew below,
But while thy pleasures portray,
Ihumbly pray thee LET me say,
Thy day iigAL winter, cold and rough,
Was JUS cherries thing enough.
But when the dim and myless sun
His short and cloudless course had run,
Then sounds Of joy and revelry
Burst gladly forth, with mpturous glee
And mirth gave signal to begin,
Her revels as the nigR set in.
Then 10 the bright and gilded hall
Thronged the gay crowd at pleasures call;
And beauty's form was fair TO see,
And oh. how sweet the minstrelsy
ThatrOlled IN mellow tones along,
Mingled with strains Of sweetest songl
Then, too when moon and stars were bright
Beneath their pure and holy light,
The bounding steeds in bright array,
Some harnessed to the painted sleigh
And reckless ofthy biting air,
Bade for awhile farewell TO care.
And to the merry sleIgh-bell's sound,
Like shadows, sweep the snowy ground
Then friends around the freside met,
In sweet communion to forget
Lies tolls and cares that wildly roll
Like pillows round the faindng soul,
And this, Of all thy joys, own,
Is nearest, dearest to my heart;
And would for all the rest atone
Though they forever should depart,
But ahi these scenes have passed away,
They fed before the lengthening day;
Even now sec thee fainter grow,
And shadowy seem thy limbs of snow;
Thy Frame old gray.beard, cannot bear
The softness Of this April air.
Sweet sounds come stealing on my ears.
Glad voices Of the newborn year
The futtering Of a wild birds wing,
The first bold pioneer Of SPRING
ristling in the LOFTY pines.
whispering voice among the vines.
Harkto that low and breezy sigh.
Young springs inst breathines mnrmuring by
The tall trees lift their heads with joy,
To feel is gentle swell
And, yonder in the northern skies,
The glances fiber opening eyes,
Ar, blending IN thousand dyes.
Old Winter iare thee well