Jephthah and Other Mysteries

220 MYSTERIES: ELEGY, August 27th, 1898. O have the days departed, as the leaves Smitten by wrath of Autumn blast; So the year, fallen from delight, still grieves Over the happy past. The year of barren summer, when the wind Blew from the south unlooked-for snow, The year when Collon, desolate and blind, Gloomed on the vale below, When logs of pinewood lit the little room, © And friendship ventured in to sit Beside their blaze, to listen in the gloom To wisdom and to wit; When we discussed our hopes, and told the stories Of happy climbing days gone by ; The stubborn battle with the cliffs, the glories Of the blue Alpine sky. The keen delight of paths untrodden yet, And new steep ice and rocky ways Too dangerous and splendid to forget. Those dear strong happy days!