The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay With Illustrations by John Gilbert |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. | VIII.—WHEN I WAS A LITTLE CHILD. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
 | The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay |  |
VIII.—WHEN I WAS A LITTLE CHILD.
I
Rejoice, my son! rejoice!That thou'rt a child to-day,
And not, as I, a full-grown man,
With hair that's growing gray.
The world is in its youth,
And bad although it be,
It shall be better for my son
Than e'er it was for me.
New arts, new thoughts, new hopes,
O'er all the earth have smiled,
Since the bygone days, long, long ago
When I was a little child.
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II
Ere yet my years were ten,A weary lot was mine;
I wrought in coal-pits, damp and cold,
And knew no summer shine.
I never saw the sun
But on the Sabbath-day;
I knew not how to read and write,
And was not taught to pray.
I never roam'd the field,
Or pluck'd the flow'rets wild,
Or had one innocent delight,
When I was a little child.
III
But thou! my new-born son,Art come in happier hours;
And thou shalt flourish in the light,
And carol in the bowers.
Thou shalt enjoy the breath
Of Spring-time and the morn,
And learn to bless with grateful heart
The day that thou wert born.
For thee shall knowledge spread
Her book with treasures piled,
And tenderest love shall guide thy steps,
Whilst thou art a little child.
| The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay | |