HARVEST-HOME.
Late in September came our corn-crops home,
Late, but full-ear'd—by many a merry noise
Of matron and of maid, young girls and boys,
Preceded, flank'd and foUow'd, did they come ;
A general joy ! for piles of unwrought food
For man and beast, on those broad axles prest,
And strain'd those sinewy necks in garlands drest
The harebell and the ragwort wondering stood
As the slow teams wound up that grassy lane ;
All knew the husbandman's long task was done ;
While, as they crost his disk, the setting sun
Blazed momently betwixt each rolling wain
And that which follow'd, piled with golden grain,
As if to gratulate the harvest won.
Late in September came our corn-crops home,
Late, but full-ear'd—by many a merry noise
Of matron and of maid, young girls and boys,
Preceded, flank'd and foUow'd, did they come ;
A general joy ! for piles of unwrought food
For man and beast, on those broad axles prest,
And strain'd those sinewy necks in garlands drest
The harebell and the ragwort wondering stood
As the slow teams wound up that grassy lane ;
All knew the husbandman's long task was done ;
While, as they crost his disk, the setting sun
Blazed momently betwixt each rolling wain
And that which follow'd, piled with golden grain,
As if to gratulate the harvest won.