 | Beads from a Rosary |  |
43
TO A LAUGHING CHILD.
Laugh on, laugh on!
The green leaf is unwithered,
The blue of the sky still bright,
The blossom of youth ungathered,
Untouched by the blight,
The river of life, calm-flowing, in the dewy morning light.
The green leaf is unwithered,
The blue of the sky still bright,
The blossom of youth ungathered,
Untouched by the blight,
The river of life, calm-flowing, in the dewy morning light.
Laugh on, laugh on!
There's a voice that singeth within thee,
That singeth of joy alone;
And that merry voice doth win thee
To mirth, with its lightest tone.
Ay, listen, listen, little one, ere the singing voice hath flown.
There's a voice that singeth within thee,
That singeth of joy alone;
And that merry voice doth win thee
To mirth, with its lightest tone.
Ay, listen, listen, little one, ere the singing voice hath flown.
44
Laugh on, laugh on!
For I ween yon sky may darken,
Its flashing radiance wane;
And thy weary spirit hearken
For the voice of mirth in vain.
I ween youth's rose-lipped phantoms fair,
May pass with their smiling throng;—
I ween the river of life may flow 'mongst the rocks and shoals, ere long.
For I ween yon sky may darken,
Its flashing radiance wane;
And thy weary spirit hearken
For the voice of mirth in vain.
I ween youth's rose-lipped phantoms fair,
May pass with their smiling throng;—
I ween the river of life may flow 'mongst the rocks and shoals, ere long.
Then laugh, ere slow-declining,
Thy childhood's joys depart;
Laugh on, while still the shining
Of the sun, can reach thine heart;—
Laugh on, while all things round thee, in thy laughing mood take part.
Thy childhood's joys depart;
Laugh on, while still the shining
Of the sun, can reach thine heart;—
Laugh on, while all things round thee, in thy laughing mood take part.
| Beads from a Rosary | |