Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-03-15

sitting in chair supported by winged
muses.. Have him sitting in an attitude
of deep thought, as if waiting for an
inspiration, and a little child at his
knee, touching his PEN
Is it not true that children have often
touched the pens of our poets as they
waited for an inspiration? Certain it is
that some of the most beautiful poems
in the English language were inspired
by childhood
Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote
some of her most beautiful lines to A
Child Asleep:
How he sleepeth, having drunken
Weary childhood's mandragore.
From his pretty eyes have shrunken
Pleasures to make room for more;
Sleeping near the withered nosegay
Which he pulled the day before.
One almost holds her breath when
taking in the meaning of the next
stanza:
Speak not! he is consecrated:
Breathe no breath across his eyes;
Lifted up and separated.
On the hand of God he lies
dn sweetness beyond touching
Held in cloistral sanctities.
Charles Kingsley, the English clergy
man, whose love for children was well
known to his friends, wrote a tender
little Farewell which runs onward
through the minds of old and young.
My fairest child, have no song to give
you,
No bank could pipe to skies so dull and
gray;
Yet, ere We part, one lesson can leave
For every day.
Be good, sweet maid, and let who will
be clever;
Do noble things, not dream them all
day long;
And so make life, death and that vast
One grand, sweet song.
Then listen to his graceful verses on
The Lost Doll, which strike a re-
, sponsive chord in the heart of every
tgrown-up" who remembers her doll
days:
once had a sweet little doll, dears,
The prettiest doll in the world;
Her cheeks were so red and so white,
dears,
And her hair was SO charmingly
curled.
But lost my poor little doll, dears,
AS played on the heath one day;
And | cried for more than week,
dears,
But never could find where she lay.
found my poor little doll, dears,
AS | walked on the heath one day;
Folks say he is terribly changed, dears,
For her paint is all washed away.
And her arms trodden off by the COW,
dears
And her hairs not the least bit
curled,
Yet for old times sake she is still,
dears,
The prettiest doll in the world.
How many of us have read the poet
zeal story tod by Julia A. Dana of the
naughty little four-year-old who didn't
love to mind" whose mamma told
her the story of Casabianca.
And the fearful burning ship.
DO you think" said I. such a child
as that
His mother would have to whip
Then her eyes grew bright as the
morning,
And they seemed to look me through
"Ahl An" thought l you under
stand
The lesson have in view.
Now what do you think of this lad
my love?
Tell me what is in your heart.
Il find" she said. he was dreffui
good
But he wasn't the least bit smart!"
A fondness for children was a
marked characteristic Of Whittier. and
several OF his best poems were written
for their amusement, such as How
They Climbed Chocura, The Seeking OF
the Waterfall, and Mary Garvin. Light
That Is Felt was suggested by little
three-year-old friend Of the poet. Once
going ahead Of her mother in darE
hall, she said: Mamma, take hold Of
my hand so that it won't be so dark.
The Barefoot Boy, written in memory