A YEAR’S WOOING.

’Twas autumn when first they stood on the bridge;

Ripe pears on the pear-tree, ripe corn on the ridge;

The swallows flew swiftly far up in the blue,

And speeding still southward, were lost to the view.

Said he: ‘Can you love me, as I can love you?’

She said, quite demurely: ‘Already I do!’

’Twas winter when next they met on the bridge;

The pear-trees were brown, and white was the ridge;