To strike the ice with a stroke of fear;

And to make the victim the story tell,

With a voice as clear as a tinkling bell.

The winter has come, and he howls at the door,

And puffing his cheeks,

He whistles and shrieks,—

A shriek of ill-will to the suffering poor,

That maketh the widow clasp her sons,

And huddle together her shiv’ring ones.

The winter has come, and the sorrow besides,