CHILDHOOD AND BIS VISITORS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 32, 1 November 1907, Page 3

CHILDHOOD AND BIS VISITORS.

Once on a time, when sunny Jlay Was kissing up the April showers, I saw fair childhood hard at play . Upon a bank of bljtshing flowers: Happy—he knew not whence or how, — And could choose but lovo . • him? ■• • For not more glad than childhood's brow Was the Blue heaven 1 that beam'd above ■ him. ■■■'•-.■ ■'■■'■:• Old Time in most, appalling wrath. That valleys' green repose invaded-; ... The. brooks, grew. dry upon his path, The. birds were innto, the lilies faded. ; But Time so.swiftly wirig'd his flight, • In haste a,Grecian tomb to batter, That childhood watchedMiis paper kite And .knew, just nothing of: tho matter.... .With curling, lip and '.glancing eye ....'. " Guiltgazod upon tho scene a minute; .'..- But chilclhoocl's glance of purity . , ~ Had ,such a. holy spell 'within, it ■'...' i That,-the dark, demon.to the air -.Spread forth his baffled pinion, '. !And hid his envy, and despair, ' Self : tortured ,in his own .dominion. Then stepped a'gloomy;; phantom up, \ : ■ Pale, Night's awful daugnter, . .- . ' ; ■ . . ' And profFer'd him'a fearful, cup - • • Full to the brim of bitter water; Poor childhood bade her tell her name . Arid when the beldamo mutter'd "Sor- ■:/ .'• 'row," ■■-■,'■ . ,-;.' : -■ ■ i . Hosaid, "Don't interrupt my game, -.''.l'll'taste'it, if I must, to-morrow." Tho muse df'.Pindus thither came, : .."-.. ■ wob'd.him with' the softest' numbers■ lhat ever scatter'd'W&alth and fame _-Upon a-youthful poePs" slumbers; Though.sweet the music of the. lay, .'■':■ '•' : vT6 childhood 'it was all a' riddle, ■ "i'"?V.' ; ' le cried, "do send away. > ■ .That'nbisy/; woman' with the fiddle'!". .-' Then-.WisdQm'.stole,his bat-arid, ball,''"■: .■" ' ■ And.-taught , him/, niost sage"endea- ■; '■■■:'■'.'■ 'yoiir, ; i' ■'•.'. ;.: ' ■''. ■■;;■..'-. ' .'..'■•..'■ ,■• Why bubbles rise .and acorns' fall," -;. / kn& why,'.no .toy.may last for over. '." bhe talked of all the wondrous laws .Which Nature's open book, discloses, - And childhppd, ere she made a pause ' Was fast asleep among the roses; .. Sleep on, sleep on! Oh! Mahhbod?s ! ''dreams'."' '' ..Iμ';.'"".'. '■' : . ! ; "" n't A Si' : - al !' of .f ar thly'paiii"or pleasure, n c °i y - s - f?" B '' Amb'tipn 's schemes, treasure: ■ iJut;to/- the cquch- where Childhood lies ■'■■ t- a more, delicious tranco-is giyehj ■ ■a ■!?-■ ?)■'.-W's.-f torn "seraph eyes ' '■ ''" And, glimpses of romomber'd Heaven! ,-'-.; ■-..• i-WINTHRQP M. PRAED.