The Frost looked forth on a still, clear night, I will not go on like that blustering train, But I'll be as busy as they!" 5 So he flew to the mountain, and powdered its crest, He lit on the trees, and their boughs he dressed 5 A coat of mail, that it need not fear He went to the window of those who slept, 10 And over each pane like a fairy crept; Wherever he breathed, wherever he stepped, By the morning light were seen 15 Most beautiful things! - there were flowers and trees, There were bevies of birds and swarms of bees ; There were cities and temples and towers; and these All pictured in silvery sheen! But he did one ing that was hardly fair, He peeped the cupboard, and finding there That all had forgotten for him to prepare. I'll bite this basket of fruit," said he, HANNAH F. GOULD. 5 bevies (běv'iz): flocks bustle (bŭs ́sl): noisy motion cupboard (kub'berd): closet margin (märʼjin): edge, border pearl (perl): precious stone HELPS TO STUDY A coat of mail was a suit of iron that soldiers wore in the days when they fought with swords and spears. This old and familiar poem describes the frost in a playful manner. See if you can follow every trick and every wonder that the frost works. 1. How does the frost work; silently or noisily? 2. What is meant by the "blustering train"? 3. What did Jack Frost do to the mountain? To the trees? To the lake? 4. What did the frost do to the windowpanes? When you next see its work, see if you can find anything like these fanciful pictures. 5. Wit mischief was he guilty of in the kitchen? THE FISH I DIDN'T CATCH Yet, after all, I think the chief attraction of the brook to my brother and myself was the fine fishing it afforded us. Our bachelor uncle who lived with us was a quiet, genial man, much given to 5 hunting and fishing; and it was one of the great pleasures of our young life to accompany him to Great Hill, Brandy-brow Woods, the Pond, and, best of all, to the Country Brook. We were quite willing to work hard in the cornfield or the haylot to finish the day's labor in season for an afternoon stroll through the woods and along the brookside. 5 I remember my first fishing excursion as if it were but yesterday. I have been happy many times in my life, but never more so than when I received that first fishing pole from my uncle's hand, and trudged off with him through the woods 10 and meadows. It was a still sweet day of early summer; the long afternoon shadows of the trees lay cool across our path; the leaves seemed greener, the flowers brighter, the birds merrier than ever before. My uncle, who knew by long experience 15 where were the best haunts of pickerel, considerately placed me at the most favorable point. I threw out my line as I had so often seen others do, and waited anxiously for a bite, moving the bait in rapid jerks on the surface of the water in imitation 20 of the leap of a frog. Nothing came of it. "Try again," said my uncle. Suddenly the bait sank out of sight. E "Now for it," thought I, "here is a |