Robin Hood Aids a Sorrowful Knight

           SOPASSEDthegentlespringtimeawayinbuddingbeauty;itssilvershowersandsunshine,itsgreenmeadowsanditsflowers.So,likewise,passedthesummerwithitsyellowsunlight,itsquiveringheatanddeep,boskyfoliage,itslongtwilightsanditsmellownights,throughwhichthefrogscroakedandfairyfolkweresaidtobeoutonthehillsides.Allthishadpassedandthetimeoffallhadcome,bringingwithititsownpleasuresandjoyousness;fornow,whentheharvestwasgatheredhome,merrybandsofgleanersroamedthecountryabout,singingalongtheroadsinthedaytime,andsleepingbeneaththehedgerowsandthehay-ricksatnight.Nowthehipsburnedredinthetangledthicketsandthehewswaxedblackinthehedgerows,thestubblelayallcrispandnakedtothesky,andthegreenleaveswerefastturningrussetandbrown.Also,atthismerryseason,goodthingsoftheyeararegatherediningreatstore.Brownaleliesripeninginthecellar,hamsandbaconhanginthesmoke-shed,andcrabsarestowedawayinthestrawforroastinginthewintertime,whenthenorthwindpilesthesnowindriftsaroundthegablesandthefirecrackleswarmuponthehearth.

           Sopassedtheseasonsthen,sotheypassnow,andsotheywillpassintimetocome,whilewecomeandgolikeleavesofthetreethatfallandaresoonforgotten.

           QuothRobinHood,snuffingtheair,"Hereisafairday,LittleJohn,andonethatwecanillwasteinidleness.