XL.
My child, we two were children,
As lively as ever you saw,
We crept into the hencoop,
And we hid there beneath the straw.
And there, like cocks, crowed loudly,
While folk went passing by.
"Kickery-koo!" they fancied,
'Twas really the cock's own cry.
The chests that lay in the courtyard,
With paper we overlaid.
Therein we lived together;
An excellent house we made.
The old cat of our neighbor
Would visit us at whiles;
We gave her bows and curtsies,
And compliments and smiles.
After her health we inquired
Gravely whenever she came.
To many an ancient Tabby
Since then we have done the same.
We talked like grown folks sagely,
And sat there oft and long,
Complaining how all had altered,
Since the days when we were young.
How love and faith and friendship
Had vanished, the world was bare;
How dear were tea and coffee,
And money had grown so rare!
Those childish games are over,
All things roll on with youth,—
Money, the world, and the seasons,
And faith and love and truth.