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YOUTH

OR

SCENES FROM THE PAST,

A SERIES OF POEMS.

INTRODUCTION.

My sun is past its zenith; and the blaze,
That burned so brightly in youth's glowing skies,
Is tempered now, by swelling clouds that rise,
In life's decline, to shade his parting rays.
What marvel if, at times, remembrance strays

Back to those scenes, whose living image lies,
Mid dews of morn and bloom that never dies,
In sunshine pure of life's first balmy days.

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Youth childhood infancy before my sight Successive rise, in colours clear as bright; Thence ripening into manhood's sober hues, Come milder forms, whose mellow tints presage, Not undesired, those softening shades of age, Which closing day must o'er the scene diffuse.

CONTENTS.

INFANCY-Sincerity-Early Impressions-Imagination-My Mother-
The Love of Nature-My Native Place-Leaving Home for School-
The boy Tyrant-The Latin Grammar-End of the Term-Vacation-
The Play Ground-The Swimmer-The Snow Fort-Skating-The
Swamscot-Improvement-Study-The Languages-History-Politics
-Dinah-Love-Schoolboy Passion-Ambition-Farewell to Exeter
-The Abbot Jubilee.

YOUTH

OR

SCENES FROM THE PAST.

BOOK FIRST.

INFANCY.

I.

Visions of childhood! oft have ye beguiled

Lone manhood's cares, yet waking fondest sighs.

COLERIDGE.

FAIN would my wandering steps retrace the stream
Back to its source, and, at the fountain, see
The springs of life, in hours of infancy,

And childhood's joys. Scarce memory can redeem,
From time, faint glimpses of that early dream,
When young existence, full of life and glee,
Mid sounds of gladness on the parent's knee,
From kindred looks saw joy's bright image beam;
The father's love, the mother's fond caress,
With smiles repaid of infant happiness.
The simplest toy could rapture then supply;
Bell, ring, or whistle, ball or top, each threw
Its charm alike, on ravished ear or eye,

Where all seemed beautiful, for all was new.

II.

His brow is bright with gleams of thought,
Not yet by care invaded :

To him, not yet, hath nature taught

Those truths, by sorrow shaded,
That come too soon, the breast to wring
With love's regret, and envy's sting.

Yes, all is beautiful, while all is new;
Ere dull satiety comes in, to cloy

Each fresh enjoyment of the ardent boy,
Or cloud, with time's disgust, his sated view.
With hopes still buoyant, feelings warm as true,
Mere novelty can now each sense employ,
And new-born wonder every scene enjoy,
With warmth of love, no time can e'er renew.
Who would not live again those days of youth,
Of simple pleasures and confiding truth,

When, each disguise of later years unknown,
Our words are deeds; and every rising thought,
To nature true, is into action wrought,-
Pleasure our aim, but truth our guide alone.

SINCERITY.

Observe

The heart's light laugh pursues the circling jest,
And all is sunshine in each little breast!

ROGERS.

yon children playing, and behold

What trifles please—how roused by word, or smile,

By mimic gesture, harmless prank, or wile,

In gay good humour acted! Though the old

Too oft with scorn regard them, these take hold
Of youthful fancies, and young hearts beguile
With pleasure, springing fresh from sympathy.

'Tis this which gives in youth each word and sign
Its lively import,- where the child can see
Truth in each thought and movement,— nature free
From fraudful art, and harbouring no design
Oblique. While age, mistrustful, seeks to find,
In fairest deeds, some bias of the mind,
Fond youth, undoubting, knows not to refine.

EARLY IMPRESSIONS.

I.

Wax to receive, and marble to retain. BYRON.

Thoughts that survive to life's remotest hour,

Their impulse oft from early childhood bring: Like swelling streams, from slender rills that spring Mid sylvan solitudes, whose shades o'ertower Those infant waters in their cradling bower. I can remount, on memory's faithful wing, To trains of early thought, whose tendrils cling To manhood's growth, with still increasing power: Habits of mind, and modes of thought imprest, In youthful ardour, on the pliant breast; Thy subtle folds, Opinion! round me cast, For good or ill, ere reason yet could guide, Or slow experience, pondering on the past, Its sage monitions for my use provide.

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