POEMS,

WRITTEN BEFORE THE PUBLICATION OF CLIFTON GROVE.

CHILDHOOD.

A POEM.

This is one of Henry's earliest productions, and appears, by the handwriting, to have been written when he was between fourteen and fifteen. The picture of the schoolmistress is from nature.

PART I.

PICTURED in memory's mellowing glass, how sweet,
Our infant days, our infant joys to greet;

To roam in fancy in each cherished scene,
The village churchyard, and the village green.
The woodland walk remote, the greenwood glade,
The mossy seat beneath the hawthorn's shade,
The whitewashed cottage, where the woodbine grew,
And all the favorite haunts our childhood knew!
How sweet, while all the evil shuns the gaze,
To view the unclouded skies of former days!

Beloved age of innocence and smiles,

When each winged hour some new delight beguiles,
When the gay heart, to life's sweet day-spring true,
Still finds some insect pleasure to pursue.

Blest Childhood, hail!-Thee simply will I sing,
And from myself the artless picture bring;