The New York Journal, And Weekly Register

WINTER.
EE! Winter comes to rule the varied year A gloomy aspect saddens all the plains; Lo! lifeless now, the trees disrob'd appear, And "tyrant death o'er vegetation reigns."
No more we hear the sweet transporting lay, Of feather'd warblers echoing thro' the grove No more behold them, hop from spray to spray. Nor hear them tune harmonious notes of love.
In southern climes where warmer suns pervade; Where gelid blasts nor wintry storms appear, When smiling spring in nature's pride array'd, Bedecks the plains, and robes the circling year.
There in sweet amity, and leagues of love, Their nests they build, and hatch the callow brood; There busy flitting thro' the neighbouring grove With care parental pick nutritious food.
But here, alas! no cheerful lays resound, No tuneful numbers fill the lonesome vales No beauteous scenes invest the dusky ground; No flow'rets exhaling in the evening gales.
But rigid Boreas from his icy bed, Invades our coasts and spreads his terrors far Lo! faded flowerets mingle with the dead, And frost and snow proclaim the wintry war.
Where crystal streamlets murmur thro' the mead. And lull'd at noon the laboring village swain; Where heifers graz'd, and flocks were wont to feed Behold all fetter'd in an icy chain.
No more the angler baits the deathful hook, Nor on the bank awaits the finny prey; Far from the meadow and the purling brook, He waits the coming of the genial May.
No more the Shepherd drives the fleecy train, O'er hillocks green, or thro' the flow'ry lawn No more the lambkins frolic o'er the plain, Nor bound exulting on the opening dawn.
Lo! rigid, bleak and transient is the day, While Sol scarce darts a feeble beam from far- Scarce on our clime reflects a glimmering ray, Ere to the western main he rolls his car.
See from yon East now sable clouds arise, And slowly float thro' fields of ambient air; At length approach and darken all the skies, And for the tempest bid the world prepare.
Now gloomy night o'er earth her curtain spreads, A solemn stillness thro' all nature reigns, Save where drear owls from their sequester'd beds; Send a shrill sound re-echoing thro' the plains-
Then round the cottage howls the savage storm, The kine stand shivering in the gelid air, The rattling hail their honest fronts deform, And pendanticles surcharge their hair.
On lofty tow'rs the raging tempest falls, And towering fabricks totter to their base Scours o'er the main old ocean's surface swells, And thunders terror to the finny race.
See! the sad sailors on the wintry main, Where Boreas raves, and rapid whirlwinds sweep, To mountain height ascend, then plunge amain, In the drear caverns of the placid deep.
While boisterous billows o'er the vessels lave, Aghastly terror seizes every soul Again they plunge--and find a wat'ry grave, Again proud billows loudly o'er them roll.
But see the roaring tempest's cease to rage, The clouds dispel'd, all Ether looks serene A milder gale the boisterous waves assuage— The rising moon displays a calmer scene.
Now Youth refin'd ascend the rapid sleigh, Bound o'er the hills and thro' the vallies glide And then at eve by Cynthia's paler ray, The village pairs begin the social ride.
While at each bridge they check the flying steed, And jocund claim the tributary kiss;-- The kiss obtain'd--they drive with gleeful speed. And crown the hours with jovial scenes of bliss,
Here semicircled at the Tavern fire. A train of toppers gabble, thought and sing. While Bacchus' juice with lust their breasts inspire And at their vitals points the invenom'd sting.
Oh baneful Juice! of Man the direst foe, Whose siren Songs the sons of Adam charm, And lure them on to Labyrinths of woe! Where Hydras hiss, and snaky furies swarm.
Here seated round the oft frequented room, Fair Virtue's sons, a sober modest train, Converse on themes beyond the dreary tomb, Where Friendship blooms, and Love, and Virtue reign.
Hail thou fair Goddess, Native of the Skies, Fair Virtue hail! of Man the lasting friend, Who mak'st the Beggar rich, the Simple wise, And opes the portals which to Glory tend.
Deign to reside in thee United States! And bless Columbia with thy cheering smiles; Confound fell Discord which our Land infests, - And blast the projects of the Demon's guiles ;
Inspire her Sons with Patriotic zeal, Cement their hearts in Harmony and Lovez Dispel self interest from the common weal, And fix a Government which time nor fate can move.
Now frigid Winter, Tyrant of the year, Extends afar his desolate domain; But see at length his latest glooms appear, And Spring's advance revives the frozen plain
Hail, fairest season! hail, thou charming Spring Come, lovely Virgin, to our longing arms ; Come, drest in verdure on thy balmy wing, And feast our senses with a world of charms.
The sweet songsters from each hedge and grove. Will tune their matins at the break of dawn; Then fragrant breezes from each Garden rove, Then various flowers enamel every lawn.