THE hawthorn is dead, the rose-leaves

have fled

On the north wind over the sea:

Now the petals will fall that are rarest of all,

Sweetheart, from the Snowflake Tree.

The Tree, it doth stand in that marvellous

land

Whose shore like a sapphire gleams,

Where a crown hangs high in the northern

sky,

Forth raying its golden beams.

It tosses its boughs with their crystalling

blows;

They crackle and tinkle for glee

When the north wind shrieks round the

awful peaks,

On the shores of the polar sea.

And never a bird its blossoms has stirred,

Or built on its branches a nest;

For the perfume which floats from the blos-

soms' throats

Would freeze the song in its breast.

And my own little bird, were her goldilocks

stirred

By the wind thro' its branches which blows,

With her songs silenced all, forever would fall

Asleep on the silver snows.

But our hearth burns bright, little sweetheart,

to-night,

And we're far from the Snowflake Tree;

Thou canst nestle in bed thy little gold head,

And thy songs shall awaken with thee.