The St. Louis Republic., 1902-07-18
FROM THE GREATPOETS
THE BAREFOOT BOY.

IESSINGS on thee. little man.
Barefoot t1y. with check Of TAM
with thy tI-ued-up pantaloons.
And INV merry wEistled tunes;
With thy rcd lip. rcdder still
Kissed hy Strawberries on the hill;
With the sunshine on thy face.
Through thy torn briu's jsuuty grace:
From ny heart I give thee joy
/ was once a barefoot boy,
Prince thou aTt.-the grown-up man
Only IS republican
let the mi!i1u-dOllared ride!
barefoot trudsizc at his side.
Thou hast more than he can hug
In the reach Of ear and eye
Outward sunshine. inward icy:
Blessings on thee. barefoot boy,
oh. for hOyhoCd's painless play.
Sisan that wakes in laughing day.
Health that mccEs the Doctors rules.
knowledge never learned Of schools.
Cf the Wild bees morning chase.
Of the wild flcwer's time and place.
Flight Of fowl and habitude
or the tenants Of the wood:
How the tortoise hears his shell.
How the woo6chuck digs hIs cell.
Ard the Cround-mole sinks his we'll:
How the robin feeds her young.
H-v the orioles nest Is hung;
Where the whitest lilies blow.
Where the freshest berries grow.
Where TIRE Erogrd-nut trails its vine.
Where the wcud-Erspe's clusters shine:
~ the black wasp's cunning way,
Mason Of his walls OF clay.
Aa5 the architectural plans
~ the gray hornet artisans,
For. eschewing books and tasks.
Nature answers all he asks:
Hand in hand with her he walks.
Face 20 face with her lie talks.
Part and parcel Of her JOY
Blessings on the barefoot bOyi
Oh. fer boyhood's time OF June.
CEoWding years in one brief moon.
When all things ! heard or saw.
Ne. their master, waited for.
was rich in flowers and trees.
HUmming- and honey-bees:
ra say @rN'+N N@A- laAAA AeA NA1N EA
Piled the shouted mole his spade:
For ray taste the blackberry cone
Purpled over hedge and stone:
Laughed the brook for my delight
Through the day and through the nigh;
Whispering at the garden wall.
Talked with me from fall 10 fall:
Mine the saad-rimmed pickerel pond.
Mine the walnut slopes beyond.
Mine. on bending orchard trees.
Apples of Hesperides.
S;iH as ny horizon grew.
Larger grew my riches. too:
I'll the world I saw or knew
Seemed u complex Chinese toy.
Fashioned for barefoot boy,
Oh. for festal dainties spread.
like my bowl OF milk and bread:
Pewter sp-OE and bowl OF wood.
Or the doov-stone, gray and rude.
O'eT ne. like a regai tent.
C'ouiy-rihh1d. the sunset bent.
PurTlc-curtgined. frinEed with gold.
I0CTcd IN many n wind-swung fold;
While Tor music came the play
Of the pied frogs orchestra:
ArI. - light the noisy choir,
l&t the iiy his lamp OF fire.
] was monarch: r-mp and Joy
Waited on tle barefoot boy,
CEs"Ti.y. then. nv little msn.
Live and lrUEh as boyhood can.
Though the fiiuty slopes be hard.
S--hb'r-sre-,rsd TIE new-mown sward
Eyevg morn shall lead thee through
Fresh taptisns OF the dew:
livery eycuinS from thy feet
shall the cool wind kiss the heat.
AL too soon these feet must hide
II the prison cells Of pride.
Lose the freedom of the sod.
Like a colts for work be shod.
Made 20 tread the mills cf toll.
- and down in ceasslesss mol:
happy II their track be found
Never on forbidden ground:
Happy II they sink not in
quick and t-eCcherous sands OF sin
An, that thou couidst know thy iov
Ere it passes. barefoot hey,