Poetry: Childhood

Thero wns a time wlreu I w;is very smnfl, When my wholc fíame was hut s:n eli ui height Sweeiiy. aá I reeut! ir, teara do ful!. And therellire I reeail t vrUh delight. I sporied n my ender mothei's arm?, And rodea hursiibuck ou btc&l fiitlior's knee, Alike wero soi ro'-vs, possions, and alarma, ' And God, crul Greek, and Love. unknowu te me. Then si'eiHcd to me tbia World far less in t-izo, l.ikewiseit seeustd to me lass wicked f;r; L'.ke poiir.s :: líe ven. I ajW ibe sinr? ;iie, And longed far witjes ihat i núghi oatjh Q star. I snw the moon bcyoad tfea island iflde. And "Oh werO Ion that ís!nn.í there! X cjuld find out of whst tho in is made, Find out how large it is.how round, how fair.'' Wondliring, Gö"d'8sun,tliro' western skies. Sink in the oernn's goidcu lap at nigh.t, And yet, upon the n'orrow. earíy ríe. And pai.'U the eaaiern heaven wiih ciimson light. And tho't of God, tbc cracious. heavoniy Father. Who made rnE and thai toveiy aun on high, And til tboée poorls of heaven, thick strung logether, Drojipcd, clustering, fruía his haud o'cr all the aky. TVith chüilish reverence my yonnz Ups did say The prayer my pious mother taught to me; Oh gentío Godl Oh, let me suivc alway Stül to be wis, nd ooó, and foiiow Thee!"' So proyed I for niy atlier ond my motftcr, And tbr my sister, and for all the lown, The king I knew not, and the beggnr btother, Who, bent with age, went, sig.'iing, up and down. They perieh'd, the biishe dajB of boyrood periahed. And a!l the gTaíness, alfiie penca I knew! Now have I btu their memory, fondly chorishfid; God!, niay ! never, never lose that tel