The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-09-14
ORGANTOWNWyA~ SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER IA. 1878.
The Children Of the Poets.

The Children Of the Poets.
IDanbury News.l
There is something so free, so happy
so unconventional, so altogether spon
taneous and natural about children, tha
few, even of the prosy ones of us, car
resist their charms. We lay dawn oul
pen when we hear their sparkling laugh
ter, or close our book to listen to theil
wise prattle; and we feel amply repaid
for the lost time by the feeling OF
lightness and brightness that stays with
us after they have gone their way
There is no music SO perfect rs the
laughter of happy child. 1t ripples
up from their pure Threats like the
songs of a forest bird, but with more
meaning. 1t is a psalm and a prayer
and blessing. And no brush can re.
produce the beauty of child's face
it battles even comprehension. We only
feel it, and are glad. No chisel can
mould form equal to the child's in
grace. The most perfect imitation
merely recalls to us the perfection We
see every day, every place We go; for
the children, thank God, are every
where.
1t is but natural that children should
hold an equal place in the love of the
poets with the birds, Natures own
poets; the flowers, the brooks, bright
days and perfect seasons. They grace
the ballads of the loftiest bard, and in
spire the sweetest strains of the hum
blest. Campbell wrote not only of the
Il" Pleasures of Hope" nor were all his
poems warlike. He seems particularly
susceptible to the charm of childhood.
He
held il a religious duty
To love and worship childrens beauty"
Perhaps no other poet has sung so
much in praise On childish grace as he.
His poem written "On getting home
the portrait of female child six years
old, and commencing with the lines
"Type of the cherubm above
Come live with me and benny love-"
abounds with praises that seem ex-
travagant to those who are not in SYM
pathy with the poets feeling:
"Thou hast not, to adorn thee, girl,
Flower, link of gold, or gem or pearl;
| would not let ruby speck
The peeplng whiteness of thy neck
Thou needst no casket, witchng elf,
No gawd--thy toilet is thyself'
INV arch and playful little creature,
Thou hast a mind In every feature,
Thy brow with its disparted locks
Speaks language that translation moeks;
Thy lucid eyes 50 beam with soul
They on the canvas seem 10 roll,
lnstructing both the head and heart
To dolize the painters art"
aInspire me- child, with visions fair
For children, in creation
The only things that could be given
BACK, and alive--unchanged--to heaven"
What has ever inspired poets mind
with grander thought than this that
finds expression in the same poem?
ale marshals mind to beauty S FEAST
He is Humapity's high priest,
Who proves by heavenly forms on EARTH
How much this world OF ours is worth"
1t is seldom indeed that we find the
love of children so nearly passion than
it is in him, although he assures us that
ave love them not in earthly fashion,
But with beatiic passion"
as these lines from His "Child Sweet
heart" will bear witness.
"The little charmer to my view
Was sculpture brought to life anew;
Her eyes had poetic glow,
Her pouting mouth was Cupid's bow,
And through her frock could descry
Her neck and shoulders symmetry,
Twas obvious from her walk and gait
Her limbs were beautifully straight"
Sir Charles Sedley, the wit and poet of
the court of Charles III, does not SEEM
ingly agree with Campbell in regard to
infantile beauty. In addressing young
lady, he says;
"Your charms in harmless childhood lay
Like metal in mine
Age from no face took more away
Than youth concealed in timer
"Strange we never miss the music
Till the sweet-voiced bird has fown,"
is a sentiment which seemingly finds an
echo in the hearts of many singers.
Charles Wesley, with his somber ideas
of the religion of that One who said,
"Suffer little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not, for of such is the
kingdom of heaven" resisted his love in
his heart until its object was taken
away. Then he bursts out in wall,
which is no less wall because he says
he is submissive:
"Ofhcious thought presents again
The thousand little acts he wrought,
Which wound my heart with soothing pain.
Hsooks, his widening gestures rise,
His warning hands and laughing eyes.
Those waving hands no more shall move,
| Those laughing eyes shall smile no more.
"And thou hast stolen jewel, DEATH"
sings Gerald Massey, when "Babt
Christabel was taken.
| Our beautiful bird of light hath fed.
| Awhile she sat with folded WINGS
Sang round us few hoverings--
Then straightway into glory sped.
Through ehildhood's morning-land, serene
She walked betwixt us twain, like love,
| While, in a robe of hight, above
| Her better angel walked unseen,
Till life's highway broke bleak and wild;
| Then lest her starry garments trail
In mire, heart bleed, and courage fail,
The angels arms caught up the child"
And Adelaide Proctor sings of hel
"Vanished Little One:"
We miss her footballs on the floor,
| Amidst the nursery din;
! Her tip taps at our bedroom door,
| Her bright face peeping in"
Yet another poet has sung: