A JANUARY DAY.

King Winter sleeps. His daughter, Spring,

His sceptre steals away,

And, laughing, bids fair Nature bring

For once a perfect day.

Bright glows the sun in azure skies,

And balmy blows the breeze,

On gayer wing the sparrow flies,

And softly sway the trees.

The seasons run like some great stream

That to the ocean flows,

The waves that here in sunshine gleam

Bound there in mountain snows:

And, as where darkling waters steal,

Drear walls of rock between,

Yet in their depths a gem reveal

That glows with sunny sheen.

So in this blustering month that bears

The banner of the year,

Such days as this with balmy airs

Amid the storms appear.

It is but meet that thy birthday

Should open bright and warm,

And into darkness fade away

Without a cloud or storm.