Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-01

the form Of q chiid's story, by describ-
ing the SNOWFALL fights OF two rival
schools, the alternate defeats and vic
tories Of each. and the final triumph Of
one party, or perhaps OF neither!
How does Winter herald his APP
Autumn, which is natures cry of Ia
mentation, as the destroyer rushes
among the shivering groves where she
has fingered, and scatters the scar
leaves upon the tempest. When that
cry is heard, the people wrap themselves
in cloaks, and shake their heads discon-
solately. saying. winter il at hand!"
Then the ak of the woodcutter echoes
sharp and diligently in the forest-then
the coal merchants rejoice because each
shrek of nature in her agony adds
something to the price Of coal per ton
then the smoke spreads Its aromatic fra
GRANGE through the atmosphere.
A few days more; and at eventide the
children look out Of the window, and
dimly perceive the haunting Of q snowy
mantle in the air. It b stern Winters
vesture. They crowd around the hearth,
and cling to their mothers gown. or
frighted by the hollow roaring voice
that bellows adown the wide nue Of
the chimney. It Is the voice of Winter:
and when parents and children hear it.
they shudder and exclaim: Winter Is
come! Cold Winter has begun his reign
already"
Now each hearth becomes an altar,
sending up the smoke OF . continued
sacrifice TO the ilnmitigable deity who
tyrannizes over forest, countryside and
town. Wrapt In his white mantle, his
stan huge icicle, his beard and hair
Wind-toSsed snoWdrift, he travels over
the land, In the midst OF the northern
blast; and woe to the homeless wander
er whom he finds upon his path! There
he lies stark and stiff, q human shape
of ice, on the spot where Winter over
took him.
On strides the tyrant over the rushing
rivers and broad lakes, which turn to
rock beneath his footsteps. His dreary
empire Is established; all around
stretched the deSolation Of the Pole.
Yet not ungrateful be his children-not
ungrateful even for the seventies which
have nourished our unyielding strength
Of character. And let US thank Winter.
too, for the SleighrideS, cheered by the
music Of merry bells-for the cracking
and rustling hearth, when the rudy
the blooming cheek Of woman-for all
the home enjoymentS, and the kindred
virtues, which flourish In q frozen soil.
Not that we grieve when, after some
seven months of storm and bitter frost,
Spring, In the guise of fower-crowned
virgin. is seen driving away the hoary
deSpot, pelting him with violets by the
handful, and strewing green grass on
the path behind him. Often, ere he will
give up his empire. old Winter ruSheS
fiercely back. and hurlS q Snowdrift ut
the shrinking form Of Spring; yet. step
by step. he Is compelled to retreat
northward. and spends the Summer
months within the Arctic Circle.
The storm has ragged without ahate-
ment and now is tossing denSer volumes
to and fro about the atmosphere. On
the windowSill there Is Q layer of snow
reaching halfway up the lowest pane of
glass. The garden is one unbroken bed.
Evening begins to spread its deepening
veil over the comfortleSs scene; the fire.
light gradually brightsns, and. throws
my pickering shadow upon the walls
and ceiling of the chamber: but still
the storm RACES and rattles against the
windowsl
Then--whenee they come nor why.
do not know-my spirit is cheered by a
wandering flock of snowbirds Swimming
lightsomely through the tempest. and
fitting from drift TO drift as sportively
as swallows in the delightful prime OF
Summer.