O, Glory of My Golden Youth [pp. 416]

" 0, Glory of my Golden Youth."
friend the spider? And we went to the
highest cliff in the world, and he spun
me the finest thread that ever a spider
saw. One end of it he held and I took
the other; then I jumped from the rock
and down, down, down, a thousand feet.
Oh, that sensation of falling through the
air was delicious. Was I dashed to
pieces on the rocks beneath? No; ha,
ha, ha! Did the gossamer break? No,
but I swuIIng between the heavens and the
earth, a thousand feet from the ground,
and a thousand feet from the rock whence
I jumped. How the devils were aston
ished to see me swinging there by a gossamer! None of them would dare to do
it. Men think they have me confined;
blind fools they are so to think. To night
when my soul leaves the body to roam
with the devils, it will return no more,
but will stay-no not stay-roam with
them forever and ever. My lamp is going out. So am I. The lamp will be
relit; but I go out forever. Daylight will
come-the sun will rise-but he will
shine upon a vacant prison. Farewell,
farewell!
NAv ENOB.
".0 GLORY OF MY GOLDEN YOUTH!"
0, glory of my golden youth!
Dear picture upon memlory's page!
Incarnate love, infinite truth!
In all these combats that I wage
In the great fields of life, I see
Your rosy cheeks, and azure eyes
And from the splendid memory
Gain strength, as under other skies!
Sweet Mage! 0 point me to the stars!
My being flows to thee, and all
This Life and Time, like golden bars
Of sunset, die-I hear you call.
To you my heart still turns; I raise
M- y looks to you, and glow with joy
And feel again the light of days
Gone from me, when an ardent boy,
I sang and laughed with you, my sweet,
In emerald shadows, and the hours
Like graces danced on snowy feet
And bent beneath their weight of flowers,
So, come mny angel! Dower my life
With grander things than joys of youth:
Come angel! bring me in the strife
A lovelier hope-a purer truth!
416
[DECEMBER