OnMrs.Riddell'sBirthday

onmrs.riddell'sbirthday

4thnovember1793.

oldwinter,withhisfrostybeard,

thusoncetojovehisprayerpreferred:

“whathaveidoneofalltheyear,

tobearthishateddoomsevere?

mycheerlesssunsnopleasureknow;

night'shorridcardrags,drearyslow;

mydismalmonthsnojoysarecrowning,

butspleenyenglishhanging,drowning.

“nowjove,foroncebemightycivil.

tocounterbalanceallthisevil;

giveme,andi'venomoretosay,

givememaria'snatalday!

thatbrilliantgiftshallsoenrichme,

spring,summer,autumn,cannotmatchme.”

“'tisdone!”saysjove;soendsmystory,

andwinteroncerejoicedinglory.