The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-09-13
The Children of THE Poets.
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IDanOuTy A6WS-i
There is something so free, so happy, |
20 unconventional, so altogether spon-
taneous and natural about children, that |
few, even of the prosy ones of US, can
resist their charms. We lay dawn our
pen when we hear their sparkling laugh |
Ter, or close our book to listen to their
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 as 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 prayer
and a blessing And no brush can re-
produce the beauty of a child's face
il battles even apprehension. We only
feel it, and are glad. No chisel can
mould a 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
DAYS and perfect seasons. They grace
the ballads of the loftiest bard, and in
spire the sweetest strains of the hum
best Campbell wrote not only of the
" Pleasures of Hope" nor were all his
poems warike. He seems particularly
susceptible to the charm of childhood.
He
held il religious duty
70 love and worship chidrens beauty"
Perhaps no other poet has sung so
much in praise of childish grace as he.
His poem written Z" On getting home
the portrait of a female child six years
- and commencing with the lines
,-a sA,7f - % .suovc,
Come live with me and be my love-
abotnds with praises that seem ex-
I trayagant to those who are not in sym
patty with the poets feeling:
/ Chou hast not, to adorn thee, girl,
/ Flower, link of gold or gem or pearl;
would not let a ruby speck
The peepmg wilderness Of thy neck,
Thou needst casket. witching elf
Nogawd-thy toilet is thyself'
my arch and playful little creature,
Thou hast mind in every feature,
Thy brow with its disparted locks
Speaks language that translation mocksi
Thy lucid eyes beam with soul
They on the canvas seem to roll,
Instructiug both tine head and heart
To idoize the painters art"
Inspire me, child with visions fair;
For children, in creation
The only things that could be given
Back, and ahye--unchauged--to heaven.
What has ever ms pired poets mind
with a grander thought than this that
finds expression in the same poem?
sc He marsnals mind to beauty feast,
lie Is Humauity's high priest,
"a no 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
We love them not in earthly fashion,
Bat with "a beatihc passion
as these lines from His " Child Sweet
heart will bear witness.
The little charmer TO my view
Was sculpture brought 20 life anew,
Tier eyes had poetic glow,
Her p0utiug mOutE vas Cupid's bow,
Aud 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 II, does not seem
ingly agree with Campbell in regard to
infantile beauty. In addressing young
lady, he says:
90 y our charms ia harmless childhood lay
Like metal in a mine
age from no face took more away
Than youth concealed IN thine!'