[CHILDREN IN SLAVERY.]
When children play the livelong day,
Like birds and butterflies,
As free and gay sport life away,
And know not care nor sighs;
Then earth and air seem fresh and fair,
All peace below, above;
Life's flowers are there, and everywhere
Is innocence and love.
When children pray with fear all day,
A blight must be at hand;
Then joys decay, and birds of prey
Are hovering o'er the land.
When young hearts weep as they go to sleep,
Then all the world seems sad;
The flesh must creep, and woes are deep,
When children are not glad.
[TO GOOD RESOLUTIONS.]
How like the morning flower ye are!
Which lifts its diamond head,
Exulting in the mead;
But the rude wind shall steal its gem,
Shall break its tender stem,
And leave it dead.
Frail pledges of the contrite heart,
Wherefore so soon decay?
O, yet prolong your stay!
Until my soul shall boldly rise,
And claim its native skies,
Haste not away.