"BACK THERE."

"Back there," the gambler-wind the snow is shuffling,
Flake after flake down--dealing in despair;
The bladeless field, the birdless thicket muffling,
But now no more the river's stillness ruffling.
Oh, bitter is the sky, and blank its stare--
Back there!

"Back there," the wires are down. The blizzard, meaning
No good to man or beast, shakes loose his hair.
The storm-bound train and locomotive preening
His sable plume, the ferry-boat, careening
Between the ice-cakes, icy fringes wear--
Back there!

TRACY and LUCY ROBINSON,
in _Out West._



DECEMBER 20.


"OUT HERE."

"Out Here," a mocker trills his carol olden,
High-perched upon some eucalyptus near.