Was ever so sweet the clover,
Was ever so clear the brook,
As my child-days, over and over,
Found fresh in the dear home-nook? [{325}]
Was ever such grace of motion,
Or ever such trills of song.
As the birds in mid-air ocean,
Poured childhood's plays among?
Were ever so bright the noondays,
Were ever the skies so blue,
Or so soft the slanting moon-rays,
As stole my childhood through?
Was ever so dear a mother,
Or a child so sweet, I pray,
As my blue-eyed baby-brother,
In the time so far away?
Was ever so true boy-lover,--
O, ever such pictures bright,
As my child-days, over and over,
Reflect by memory's light!
NELLY AND NED.
"I'M twelve years old to-day," says Ned,
"And wish I were twelve more, sir,--
And Nelly Warner's almost twelve,
So we'd be twenty-four, sir."
"'And what of that!' Why, Nelly 'n' I
Have always played together;
And then I draw her on my sled,
To school in stormy weather.
"And all the goodies that we get,
We share them half and half, sir;
And O, we have such lots of fun,
I'm sure 'twould make you laugh, sir!
"Now Nelly lives in Cottage Square,
While I live 'round the corner,
And all the boys would laugh and shout,
'Ned Jarrett loves Nell Warner.'
"I didn't care for this, you know,
But O, I couldn't bear it
When they began to laugh at her,
And say, 'Nell loves Ned Jarrett!'
"And so I thought I'd have to fight,--
And though I was the smallest
Of all the party, I's so mad
I'd easy beat the tallest.
"But Nelly coaxed and comforted,
And said, 'Why would I do it,
When they had only told the truth,
And everybody knew it!'"