 | The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings |  |
56
TO PASTURE
There's a touch of frost in the crisp, fresh air,
And the trees and hedges are growing bare,
And Autumn says, “It is my turn now,”
As she strips the leaves from the patient bough.
And the trees and hedges are growing bare,
And Autumn says, “It is my turn now,”
As she strips the leaves from the patient bough.
All in the bright morning comes little Justine,
With the prettiest bossy that ever was seen.
But though he's so sleek and so handsome a calf,
He has too much will of his own, by half.
With the prettiest bossy that ever was seen.
But though he's so sleek and so handsome a calf,
He has too much will of his own, by half.
And he does not like to be led away
From his mother's side in the early day,
Where the little maid's feet so lightly go,
He veers about and he trots so slow!
From his mother's side in the early day,
Where the little maid's feet so lightly go,
He veers about and he trots so slow!
He'd say, if only the power had he,
“Justine, why couldn't you let me be?
I'd rather go back at once, if you please,
To yonder barn by the poplar trees.
“Justine, why couldn't you let me be?
I'd rather go back at once, if you please,
To yonder barn by the poplar trees.
O milk is good and clover is tough,
And I haven't begun to have breakfast enough,
And I know the meadow you take me to
Is cold and wet with the frosty dew!”
And I haven't begun to have breakfast enough,
And I know the meadow you take me to
Is cold and wet with the frosty dew!”
But little Justine with a merry laugh
Cries, “Hurry, my beautiful bossy calf!
You will have nothing to do all day
But to sleep and to eat and to frisk and to play.
Cries, “Hurry, my beautiful bossy calf!
You will have nothing to do all day
But to sleep and to eat and to frisk and to play.
57
'Tis a lovely place I shall tether you in,
There are many there of your kith and kin.
You'll not be lonesome; there's plenty to eat,
You must learn to nibble the grass so sweet.”
There are many there of your kith and kin.
You'll not be lonesome; there's plenty to eat,
You must learn to nibble the grass so sweet.”
The wind blows her pretty blue cloak away
From her scarlet skirt and her apron gray,
And ruffles the mass of her yellow hair,
And kisses her cheeks that are rosy and fair.
From her scarlet skirt and her apron gray,
And ruffles the mass of her yellow hair,
And kisses her cheeks that are rosy and fair.
And she looks so charming and blithe and gay,
As she trips so carelessly down the way!
But the bossy hangs back, and, “O dear,” thinks he,
“Justine, how I wish you would let me be.”
As she trips so carelessly down the way!
But the bossy hangs back, and, “O dear,” thinks he,
“Justine, how I wish you would let me be.”
| The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings | |