The Labor enquirer., 1888-05-05
JhGKFRosT.
ny V. TESNANT.

Ore calm, cloudless night when the silver
moon shone,
Jack Frost first betbought him OF ILL;
With his chariot gay tnd fieet-foo'ed steeds.
Would ride forth to conquer or Kill.
Far In snow-land he lived in n castle OF Ice
A beautiful, gilttcring thing,
Whose ,turreis and walls shone MS gold in
IN moonlight, doves r.arly Wing.
When homeward he Journey cd from rol.ck.
ing larks.
To guide him he d forty bright stars:
A table well spread with snowcakes and
bread
To feast on-thls wager OF wars.
Sad and moody prew Jack. These things
failed to please him.
He sighed ps he thought OF fair lands
Beyond his domain, far. far TO the south.
Where bright rivers sing o er the sands.
Without touching or tasting his cup OF
ice-tea.
lie straightway began to prepare
To conquer ard win, by fair means or foul,
The wealth which he coveted there.
Then brushing the flakes from his soft,
downy wraps,
Donned quickly his garments OF light;
And TO cover the face Of dying and dead
He carried n veil lily white.
Loud laughing he tossei from his gray locks
the snow;
Then bound the Wild winds with chain
90 firmly 'twerc useless for freedom 10 strive,
SO long as King Jackcv should reign.
Then were brought to his door his chariot
an, four
Speed. Sparkle. good Llghtfoot and Grey
With jump and n shout proud Jackey was
OF.
To ride till the dnwning OF day.
Ger plains dark and dreary. DER rough road.
he rode,
Great ice-nelds he passed with delight;
Der cavcrns and rocks In safety he flew.
''nchecked In his wonderful flight.
Down to woodland he rushed I'LL the trees
sobbing cried
For summers gay mantle OF green;
The still pools he pierced with needles OF ice
A beautiful picture ween!
The leaves OF the grapevine TO powder he
crushed.
The fruit sought rudely TO mangle;
But only the sweetcr the ripe clusters grew,
That hung In 'wildering tangle.
Then'or through the valley n corn-feld he
spied
Which held Its sharp sword-leaves on high;
with one single blow the sword.leaves he
dulled.
Then left them % curl up and die.
Cross a meadoS'hc hurried and round him
there bowed
Millions OF brown-crcsted grasses;
The sweet prairie flowers slow shivered and
died,
As DER them he cruelty passes
Next up to cottage he franticly stcered,
Raped twice NJ door double barred;
Turned nim quickly about his vengeance to
wreak
On blooms whlc. he ruefully marred.
Then out TO the garden In anger he ran
To md where the "love-apples igrew;
He spared not the fruit. he spared not the
But pinched them until they were blue.
But sorry and vexed was the gentle housewife
When she spied mt the door In the morn.
All crumplcd and white Jacks glove on the
sill,
And ali her fair garden vines gone.
To the east tn Jack veered, but he met
lovely Dawn
with lances all rosy and bright;
Slowly he wheeled his gay chariot about,
For he feared the great King In his might.
Straight northward he dashed but before he
reached home
His chariot fell with crash:
His horses now wearied would hurry no more
No matter how hard he did lash.
| In bewildering dismay Jack hustled about
To fold up his blankets or white:
Fast, fast fell his tears that he now mus
return
To his great, chilly castle OF light
But fate was against him: Hlittering heam
Unconsciously bowed the proud head.
And loosed from his clasp the soft garments
when, icl tie poor most King Sssa1ad.