Our Children's Songs With Illustrations

200 Children's Song Lyrics, incuding Christian Hymns - online songbook

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	SONGS FOR BOYHOOD.		155
	Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day, Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind ? On some fond breast the parting soul relies, fSoine pious drops the closing eye requires; Even from the tomb the voice of Nature cries, Even in our ashes live their wonted fires. For thee, who, mindful of th' unhonored dead, Dost in these lines their artless tale relate, [f chance, by lonely contemplation led, Some kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate, Haply some hoary-headed swain may say, " Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn Brushing with hasty steps the dews away, To meet the sun upon the upland lawn.	" One morn I missed him on the 'customed hill, Along the heath, and near his favorite tree ; Another came ; nor yet beside the rill, Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he; " The uext, with dirges due in sad array, Slow through the church-way path we saw him borne. Approach and read (for thou canst read) the lay Graved on the stone beueath yon aged thorn."
		THE EPITAPH. Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth A youth, to Fortune and to Fame unknown ; Fair Science frowned not ou his humble birth, And Melancholy marked him for her own.
	�' There, at the foot of yonder nodding beech, That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, His listless length at noontide would he stretch, And pore upon the brook that babbles by. " Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn, Muttering his wayward fancies, he would rove; Now drooping, woful-wan, like one forlorn, Or crazed with care, or crossed in hopeless love.	Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere, Heaven did a recompense as largely send; .He gave to Misery all he had�a tear : He gained from Heaven ('twas all he wished a friend. No farther seek his merits to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode (There they alike in trembling hope repose;, The bosom of his Father and his God.