Charlotte Bronte early poem read at The Players Club

1. 

Winter Stores

By Charlotte Bronte

1. WE take from life one little share,
2.   And say that this shall be
3. A space, redeemed from toil and care, 
4.   From tears and sadness free.
5. And, haply, Death unstrings his bow
6.   And Sorrow stands apart,
7. And, for a little while, we know
8.   The sunshine of the heart.
9. Existence seems a summer eve,
10.   Warm, soft, and full of peace;
11. Our free, unfettered feelings give
12.   The soul its full release.
13. A moment, then, it takes the power,
14.   To call up thoughts that throw
15. Around that charmed and hallowed hour,
16.   This life's divinest glow.
17. But Time, though viewlessly it flies,
18.   And slowly, will not stay;
19. Alike, through clear and clouded skies,
20.   It cleaves its silent way.
21. 
    
22. Alike the bitter cup of grief,
23.   Alike the draught of bliss,
24. Its progress leaves but moment brief
25.   For baffled lips to kiss.
26. The sparkling draught is dried away,
27.   The hour of rest is gone,
28. And urgent voices, round us, say,
29.   " Ho, lingerer, hasten on !"
30. And has the soul, then, only gained,
31.   From this brief time of ease,
32. A moment's rest, when overstrained,
33.   One hurried glimpse of peace ?
34. No; while the sun shone kindly o'er us,
35.   And flowers bloomed round our feet,–
36. While many a bud of joy before us
37.   Unclosed its petals sweet,–
38. An unseen work within was plying;
39.   Like honey-seeking bee,
40. From flower to flower, unwearied, flying,
41.   Laboured one faculty,–
42. Thoughtful for Winter's future sorrow,
43.   Its gloom and scarcity;
44. Prescient to-day, of want to-morrow,
45.   Toiled quiet Memory.
46. 
    
47. 'Tis she that from each transient pleasure 
48.   Extracts a lasting good;
49. 'Tis she that finds, in summer, treasure 
50.   To serve for winter's food.
51. And when Youth's summer day is vanished,
52.   And Age brings Winter's stress,
53. Her stores, with hoarded sweets replenished, 
54.   Life's evening hours will bless.

I recently had the pleasure of reading this poem at a poetry night at The Players Club.

I was also supposed to read a second poem but due to a mix up I could not.

If any Bronte scholars know anything about Charlotte Bronte's early poem, I would be thrilled if you would share it with me.