 | Mid-Day Gleanings |  |
KING AUTUMN.
Autumn one September day
With but a golden wand
Came to this country (people say)
From a strange, foreign land.
With but a golden wand
Came to this country (people say)
From a strange, foreign land.
He found the earth enrobed in green,
With flowered belts around,
A skirt of nature's grandest scene
In tucks of grandeur bound.
With flowered belts around,
A skirt of nature's grandest scene
In tucks of grandeur bound.
95
He thought her queenly in her form,
But just one thing alack,
A golden belt, a chain and charm,
And brownish-colored sack.
But just one thing alack,
A golden belt, a chain and charm,
And brownish-colored sack.
And so he touched her queenly hand;
And trees that graced her crown
Did waver 'neath his magic wand
Till came a shower down.
And trees that graced her crown
Did waver 'neath his magic wand
Till came a shower down.
He moved among the leafy tents
Till colors varied came,
And till bouquets of golden tints
Were given earth his dame.
Till colors varied came,
And till bouquets of golden tints
Were given earth his dame.
Then he smiled upon the flowers,
Which blushed and drooped the head:
And stepping out from the bowers,
In frigid tones he said:
Which blushed and drooped the head:
And stepping out from the bowers,
In frigid tones he said:
“I, the great king of all the land,
Know nothing of mother;
But early left my native land
To dwell in another.
Know nothing of mother;
But early left my native land
To dwell in another.
The earth at once shall change her robe
From green to brilliant brown,
And every creature on the globe
Shall recognize her crown.”
From green to brilliant brown,
And every creature on the globe
Shall recognize her crown.”
96
He placed his hands upon the leaves
Which soon their verdure lost;
And blew his breath among the eaves
And left a coat of frost.
Which soon their verdure lost;
And blew his breath among the eaves
And left a coat of frost.
Then we insects and little elves
Did vanish as of gold,
And men threw cloaks around themselves
Because 'twas getting cold.
Did vanish as of gold,
And men threw cloaks around themselves
Because 'twas getting cold.
And every year since that day,
When earth puts on her brown,
All of the wise pull off their gay
To recognize her crown.
When earth puts on her brown,
All of the wise pull off their gay
To recognize her crown.
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