And all that quiet afternoon, slow sloping to the night, And shouting boys in woodland haunts caught glimpses of that sky, Flecked by the many-tinted leaves, and laughed, they knew not why; And school-girls, gay with aster-flowers, beside the meadow brooks, Mingled the glow of autumn with the sunshine of sweet looks. From spire and barn looked westerly the patient weather cocks; 5 But even the birches on the hill stood motionless as rocks. 10 No sound was in the woodlands, save the squirrel's dropping shell, And the yellow leaves among the boughs, low rustling as they fell. The summer grains were harvested; the stubble-fields lay dry, Where June winds rolled, in light and shade, the pale green waves of rye; But still, on gentle hill-slopes, in valleys fringed with wood, 15 Ungathered, bleaching in the sun, the heavy corn crop stood. Bent low, by autumn's wind and rain, through husks that, dry and sere, Unfolded from their ripened charge, shone out the yellow ear; Beneath, the turnip lay concealed, in many a verdant fold, And glistened in the slanting light the pumpkin's sphere of gold. There wrought the busy harvesters; and many a creaking wain Bore slowly to the long barn-floor its load of husk and grain; 5 Till broad and red, as when he rose, the sun sank down, at last, And like a merry guest's farewell, the day in brightness passed. And lo! as through the western pines, on meadow, stream, and pond, Flamed the red radiance of a sky, set all afire beyond, Slowly o'er the eastern sea-bluffs a milder glory shone, 10 And the sunset and the moonrise were mingled into one! As thus into the quiet night the twilight lapsed away, lay; From many a brown old farm-house, and hamlet without name, Their milking and their home-tasks done, the merry huskers came. 15 Swung o'er the heaped-up harvest, from pitchforks in the mow, Shone dimly down the lanterns on the pleasant scene below; The growing pile of husks behind, the golden ears before, And laughing eyes and busy hands and brown cheeks glimmering o'er. Half hidden, in a quiet nook, serene of look and heart, Urged by the good host's daughter, a maiden young and fair, Lifting to light her sweet blue eyes and pride of soft brown hair, The master of the village school, sleek of hair and smooth of tongue, To the quaint tune of some old psalm, a husking-ballad sung. JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. HELPS TO STUDY 1. What other poem in this book has lines like this one? In which does the form seem more suitable to the subject? 2. What month is it? 3. The American autumn is richer in brilliant color than in most countries. What colors are in this landscape? 4. Where does the husking take place? 5. Have you ever known of any similar parties, where labor becomes pleasure? For Study with the Glossary: Chastened, shuttle, verdant, radiance, lapsed. 10 THE COURTIN' God makes sech nights, all white an' still Zekle crep' up quite unbeknown A fireplace filled the room's one side The wa'nut logs shot sparkles out Towards the pootiest, bless her, Agin the chimbley crook-necks hung, The ole queen's-arm thet granther Young The very room, coz she was in, Seemed warm from floor to ceilin', An' she looked full ez rosy agin Ez the apples she was peelin'. 5 10 1 'Twas kin' o' kingdom-come to look On such a blessed cretur, A dogrose blushin' to a brook He was six foot o' man, A 1, Clear grit an' human natur; None couldn't quicker pitch a ton Nor dror a furrer straighter. He'd sparked it with full twenty gals, Hed squired 'em, danced 'em, druv 'em, |