the story of the year-第2部分

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upon　the　walls　of　a　farm…house；　brightening　the　blooming　roses；　and

ripening　the　black　juicy　berries；　which　hung　on　the　loaded

cherry…trees；　with　his　hot　beams。　Here　sat　the　lovely　wife　of

Summer；　the　same　whom　we　have　seen　as　a　child　and　a　bride；　her　eyes

were　fixed　on　dark　gathering　clouds；　which　in　wavy　outlines　of　black

and　indigo　were　piling　themselves　up　like　mountains；　higher　and

higher。　They　came　from　every　side；　always　increasing　like　a　rising；

rolling　sea。　Then　they　swooped　towards　the　forest；　where　every　sound

had　been　silenced　as　if　by　magic；　every　breath　hushed；　every　bird

mute。　All　nature　stood　still　in　grave　suspense。　But　in　the　lanes　and

the　highways；　passengers　on　foot　or　in　carriages　were　hurrying　to　find

a　place　of　shelter。　Then　came　a　flash　of　light；　as　if　the　sun　had

rushed　forth　from　the　sky；　flaming；　burning；　all…devouring；　and

darkness　returned　amid　a　rolling　crash　of　thunder。　The　rain　poured

down　in　streams；…　now　there　was　darkness；　then　blinding　light；…　now

thrilling　silence；　then　deafening　din。　The　young　brown　reeds　on　the

moor　waved　to　and　fro　in　feathery　billows；　the　forest　boughs　were

hidden　in　a　watery　mist；　and　still　light　and　darkness　followed　each

other；　still　came　the　silence　after　the　roar；　while　the　corn　and　the

blades　of　grass　lay　beaten　down　and　swamped；　so　that　it　seemed

impossible　they　could　ever　raise　themselves　again。　But　after　a　while

the　rain　began　to　fall　gently；　the　sun's　rays　pierced　the　clouds；

and　the　water…drops　glittered　like　pearls　on　leaf　and　stem。　The

birds　sang；　the　fishes　leaped　up　to　the　surface　of　the　water；　the

gnats　danced　in　the　sunshine；　and　yonder；　on　a　rock　by　the　heaving

salt　sea；　sat　Summer　himself；　a　strong　man　with　sturdy　limbs　and　long；

dripping　hair。　Strengthened　by　the　cool　bath；　he　sat　in　the　warm

sunshine；　while　all　around　him　renewed　nature　bloomed　strong；

luxuriant；　and　beautiful：　it　was　summer；　warm；　lovely　summer。　Sweet

and　pleasant　was　the　fragrance　wafted　from　the　clover…field；　where　the

bees　swarmed　round　the　ruined　tower；　the　bramble　twined　itself　over

the　old　altar；　which；　washed　by　the　rain；　glittered　in　the　sunshine；

and　thither　flew　the　queen　bee　with　her　swarm；　and　prepared　wax　and

honey。　But　Summer　and　his　bosom…wife　saw　it　with　different　eyes；　to

them　the　altar…table　was　covered　with　the　offerings　of　nature。　The

evening　sky　shone　like　gold；　no　church　dome　could　ever　gleam　so

brightly；　and　between　the　golden　evening　and　the　blushing　morning

there　was　moonlight。　It　was　indeed　summer。　And　days　and　weeks

passed；　the　bright　scythes　of　the　reapers　glittered　in　the

corn…fields；　the　branches　of　the　apple…trees　bent　low；　heavy　with

the　red　and　golden　fruit。　The　hop；　hanging　in　clusters；　filled　the　air

with　sweet　fragrance；　and　beneath　the　hazel…bushes；　where　the　nuts

hung　in　great　bunches；　rested　a　man　and　a　woman…　Summer　and　his

grave　consort。

　　　　〃See；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃what　wealth；　what　blessings　surround　us。

Everything　is　home…like　and　good；　and　yet；　I　know　not　why；　I　long

for　rest　and　peace；　I　can　scarcely　express　what　I　feel。　They　are

already　ploughing　the　fields　again；　more　and　more　the　people　wish

for　gain。　See；　the　storks　are　flocking　together；　and　following　the

plough　at　a　short　distance。　They　are　the　birds　from　Egypt；　who　carried

us　through　the　air。　Do　you　remember　how　we　came　as　children　to　this

land　of　the　north；　we　brought　with　us　flowers　and　bright　sunshine；　and

green　to　the　forests；　but　the　wind　has　been　rough　with　them；　and

they　are　now　become　dark　and　brown；　like　the　trees　of　the　south；　but

they　do　not；　like　them；　bear　golden　fruit。〃

　　　　〃Do　you　wish　to　see　golden　fruit？〃　said　the　man；　〃then　rejoice；〃

and　he　lifted　his　arm。　The　leaves　of　the　forest　put　on　colors　of　red

and　gold；　and　bright　tints　covered　the　woodlands。　The　rose…bushes

gleamed　with　scarlet　hips；　and　the　branches　of　the　elder…trees　hung

down　with　the　weight　of　the　full；　dark　berries。　The　wild　chestnuts

fell　ripe　from　their　dark；　green　shells；　and　in　the　forests　the

violets　bloomed　for　the　second　time。　But　the　queen　of　the　year

became　more　and　more　silent　and　pale。

　　　　〃It　blows　cold；〃　she　said；　〃and　night　brings　the　damp　mist；　I　long

for　the　land　of　my　childhood。〃　Then　she　saw　the　storks　fly　away

every　one；　and　she　stretched　out　her　hands　towards　them。　She　looked　at

the　empty　nests；　in　one　of　them　grew　a　long…stalked　corn　flower；　in

another　the　yellow　mustard　seed；　as　if　the　nest　had　been　placed

there　only　for　its　comfort　and　protection；　and　the　sparrows　were

flying　round　them　all。

　　　　〃Tweet；　where　has　the　master　of　the　nest　gone？〃　cried　one；　〃I

suppose　he　could　not　bear　it　when　the　wind　blew；　and　therefore　he

has　left　this　country。　I　wish　him　a　pleasant　journey。〃

　　　　The　forest　leaves　became　more　and　more　yellow；　leaf　after　leaf

fell；　and　the　stormy　winds　of　Autumn　howled。　The　year　was　now　far

advanced；　and　upon　the　fallen；　yellow　leaves；　lay　the　queen　of　the

year；　looking　up　with　mild　eyes　at　a　gleaming　star；　and　her　husband

stood　by　her。　A　gust　of　wind　swept　through　the　foliage；　and　the　leaves

fell　in　a　shower。　The　summer　queen　was　gone；　but　a　butterfly；　the　last

of　the　year；　flew　through　the　cold　air。　Damp　fogs　came；　icy　winds

blew；　and　the　long；　dark　nights　of　winter　approached。　The　ruler　of　the

year　appeared　with　hair　white　as　snow；　but　he　knew　it　not；　he

thought　snow…flakes　falling　from　the　sky　covered　his　head；　as　they

decked　the　green　fields　with　a　thin；　white　covering　of　snow。　And

then　the　church　bells　rang　out　for　Christmas　time。

　　　　〃The　bells　are　ringing　for　the　new…born　year；〃　said　the　ruler；

〃soon　will　a　new　ruler　and　his　bride　be　born；　and。　I　shall　go　to

rest　with　my　wife　in　yonder　light…giving　star。〃

　　　　In　the　fresh；　green　fir…wood；　where　the　snow　lay　all　around；　stood

the　angel　of　Christmas；　and　consecrated　the　young　trees　that　were　to

adorn　his　feast。

　　　　〃May　there　be　joy　in　the　rooms；　and　under　the　green　boughs；〃

said　the　old　ruler　of　the　year。　In　a　few　weeks　he　had　become　a　very

old　man；　with　hair　as　white　as　snow。　〃My　resting…time　draws　near；

the　young　pair　of　the　year　will　soon　claim　my　crown　and　sceptre。〃

　　　　〃But　the　night　is　still　thine；〃　said　the　angel　of　Christmas；

〃for　power；　but　not　for　rest。　Let　the　snow　lie　warmly　upon　the

tender　seed。　Learn　to　endure　the　thought　that　another　is　worshipped

whilst　thou　art　still　lord。　Learn　to　endure　being　forgotten　while

yet　thou　livest。　The　hour　of　thy　freedom　will　come　when　Spring

appears。〃

　　　　〃And　when　will　Spring　come？〃　asked　Winter。

　　　　〃It　will　come　when　the　stork　returns。〃

　　　　And　with　white　locks　and　snowy　beard；　cold；　bent；　and　hoary；　but

strong　as　the　wintry　storm；　and　firm　as　the　ice；　old　Winter　sat　on　the

snowdrift…covered　hill；　looking　towards　the　south；　where　Winter　had

sat　before；　and　gazed。　The　ice　glittered；　the　snow　crackled；　the

skaters　skimmed　over　the　polished　surface　of　the　lakes；　ravens　and

crows　formed　a　pleasing　contrast　to　the　white　ground；　and　not　a　breath

of　wind　stirred；　and　in　the　still　air　old　Winter　clenched　his　fists；

and　the　ice　lay　fathoms　deep　between　the　lands。　Then　came　the　sparrows

again　out　of　the　town；　and　asked；　〃Who　is　that　old　man？〃　The　raven　sat

there　still；　or　it　might　be　his　son；　which　is　the　same　thing；　and　he

said　to　them；…

　　　　〃It　is　Winter；　the　old　man　of　the　former　year；　he　is　not　dead；

as　the　calendar　says；　but　he　is　guardian　to　the　spring；　which　is

coming。〃

　　　　〃When　will　Spring　come？〃　asked　the　sparrows；　〃for　we　shall　have

better　times　then；　and　a　better　rule。　The　old　times　are　worth

nothing。〃

　　　　And　in　quiet　thought　old　Winter　looked　at　the　leafless　forest；

where　the　graceful　form　and　bends　of　each　tree　and　branch　could　be

seen；　and　while　Winter　slept；　icy　mists　came　from　the　clouds；　and

the　ruler　dreamt　of　his　youthful　days　and　of　his　manhood；　and　in　the

morning　dawn　the　whole　forest　glittered　with　hoar　frost；　which　the　sun

shook　from　the　branches；…　and　this　was　the　summer　dream　of　Winter。

　　　　〃When　will　Spring　come？〃　asked　the　sparrows。　〃Spring！〃　Again　the

echo　sounded　from　the　hills　on　which　the　snow　lay。　The　sunshine　became

warmer；　the　snow　melted；　and　the　birds　twittered；　〃Spring　is

coming！〃　And　high　in　the　air　flew　the　first　stork；　and　the　second

followed；　a　lovely　child　sat　on　the　back　of　each；　and　they　sank　down

on　the　open　field；　kissed　the　earth；　and　kissed　the　quiet　old　man；

and；　as　the　mist　from　the　mountain　top；　he　vanished　away　and

disappeared。　And　the　story　of　the　year　was　finished。

　　　　〃This　is　all　very　fine；　no　doubt；〃　said　the　sparrows；　〃and　it　is

very　beautiful；　but　it　is　not　according　to　the　calendar；　therefore；　it

must　be　all　wrong。〃





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

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