Winter Stores.

We take from life one little share,     And say that this shall be     A space, redeemed from toil and care,     From tears and sadness free.     And, haply, Death unstrings his bow,     And Sorrow stands apart,     And, for a little while, we know     The sunshine of the heart.     Existence seems a summer eve,     Warm, soft, and full of peace,     Our free, unfettered feelings give     The soul its full release.     A moment, then, it takes the power     To call up thoughts that throw     Around that charmed and hallowed hour,     This life's divinest glow.     But Time, though viewlessly it flies,     And slowly, will not stay;     Alike, through clear and clouded skies,     It cleaves its silent way.     Alike the bitter cup of grief,     Alike the draught of bliss,     Its progress leaves but moment brief     For baffled lips to kiss     The sparkling draught is dried away,     The hour of rest is gone,     And urgent voices, round us, say,     "Ho, lingerer, hasten on!"     And has the soul, then, only gained,     From this brief time of ease,     A moment's rest, when overstrained,     One hurried glimpse of peace?     No; while the sun shone kindly o'er us,     And flowers bloomed round our feet,     While many a bud of joy before us     Unclosed its petals sweet,     An unseen work within was plying;     Like honey-seeking bee,     From flower to flower, unwearied, flying,     Laboured one faculty,     Thoughtful for Winter's future sorrow,     Its gloom and scarcity;     Prescient to-day, of want to-morrow,     Toiled quiet Memory.     'Tis she that from each transient pleasure     Extracts a lasting good;     'Tis she that finds, in summer, treasure     To serve for winter's food.     And when Youth's summer day is vanished,     And Age brings Winter's stress,     Her stores, with hoarded sweets replenished,     Life's evening hours will bless.