Where'er you pass,-where'er you go, Not wholly dead!—Autonoë! How sweet with you on some green sod In vain,--in vain! The years divide: From under-lands of Memory,— Austin Dobson [1840 "CHAMBER SCENE" AN EXQUISITE PICTURE IN THE STUDIO OF A YOUNG ARTIST AT ROME SHE rose from her untroubled sleep, And put away her soft brown hair, And, in a tone as low and deep As love's first whisper, breathed a prayer- Her snow-white hands together pressed, Her blue eyes sheltered in the lid, The folded linen on her breast, Just swelling with the charms it hid; A Life-Lesson And from her long and flowing dress Like a new snow-flake, white and "mute"; Like a young spirit fresh from heaven, Oh God! if souls unsoiled as these Our loveliest and our purest one,- Must kneel and pray for grace from Thee, Will our wild errors be forgiven! 335 Nathaniel Parker Willis [1806-1867] "AH, BE NOT FALSE" Ан, be not false, sweet Splendor! Be true, be good; Be wise as thou art tender; Be all that Beauty should. Not lightly be thy citadel subdued; Not ignobly, not untimely, Take praise in solemn mood; Take love sublimely. Richard Watson Gilder [1844-1909] A LIFE-LESSON THERE! little girl, don't cry! They have broken your doll, I know; And your tea-set blue, And your play-house, too, Are things of the long ago; But childish troubles will soon pass by.- There! little girl, don't cry! They have broken your slate, I know; Of your school-girl days But life and love will soon come by.— There! little girl, don't cry! They have broken your heart, I know; And the rainbow gleams Of your youthful dreams Are things of the long ago; But Heaven holds all for which you sigh. There! little girl, don't cry! James Whitcomb Riley [1852 THE MAN THE BREAKING THE LORD GOD SPEAKS TO A YOUTH BEND now thy body to the common weight: (But oh, that vine-clad head, those limbs of morn! Those proud young shoulders, I myself made straight! How shall ye wear the yoke that must be worn?) Look thou, my son, what wisdom comes to thee: (But oh, that singing mouth, those radiant eyes! Those dancing feet-that I myself made free! How shall I sadden them to make them wise?) Nay, then, thou shalt! Resist not-have a care! Though I am God-to see thee so submit!) THE FLIGHT OF YOUTH THERE are gains for all our losses, We are stronger, and are better, Under manhood's sterner reign: Something beautiful is vanished, On the earth, and in the air, But it never comes again. Richard Henry Stoddard [1825-1903] "DAYS OF MY YOUTH" DAYS of my youth, Ye have glided away; Hairs of my youth, Ye are frosted and gray; Eyes of my youth, Your keen sight is no more; Cheeks of my youth, Ye are furrowed all o'er; Strength of my youth, All your vigor is gone; Thoughts of my youth, Your gay visions are flown. Days of my youth, I wish not your recall; Hairs of my youth, I'm content ye should fall; Eyes of my youth, You much evil have seen; Cheeks of my youth, Bathed in tears have you been; Thoughts of my youth, You have led me astray; Strength of my youth, Why lament your decay? Days of my age, Ye will shortly be past; Pains of my age, Yet awhile ye can last; |