Poems (Cook)/Children's welcoming
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CHILDREN'S WELCOMING.
They were indeed a lovely group
Of happy, sportive creatures;
With all of beauty that can dwell
In earthly forms and features.
Of happy, sportive creatures;
With all of beauty that can dwell
In earthly forms and features.
There was a light in every eye,
A tint on every cheek;
So bright, so deep, that rarer ones
A limner would not seek.
A tint on every cheek;
So bright, so deep, that rarer ones
A limner would not seek.
They sprang about the spangled grass
Like young and gamesome deer;
And thrillingly their voices fell
Upon my heart and ear.
Like young and gamesome deer;
And thrillingly their voices fell
Upon my heart and ear.
With minds of childish innocence
Unsullied and unbent;
Though living in a world of sin,
They knew not what sin meant.
Unsullied and unbent;
Though living in a world of sin,
They knew not what sin meant.
"Come on," they cried, "we've deck'd your seat
With fresh-pull'd oaken boughs;
We've gathered flowers, and you must weave
Them round about our brows!
With fresh-pull'd oaken boughs;
We've gathered flowers, and you must weave
Them round about our brows!
"We've chased each other down the hill,
And through the primrose vale;
But now we'll listen, while you sit
And tell the promised tale.
And through the primrose vale;
But now we'll listen, while you sit
And tell the promised tale.
"We've run to meet you at the gate,
And watch'd and waited long:
Come on, come on—we're all right glad
To have you in our throng!"
And watch'd and waited long:
Come on, come on—we're all right glad
To have you in our throng!"
And then the urchins, clambering up,
Gave many an earnest kiss;
And led me on, with wild delight,
Towards their fields of bliss.
Gave many an earnest kiss;
And led me on, with wild delight,
Towards their fields of bliss.
Oh, how I loved the fairy elves!
I bless'd them, for I knew
Their inmost thoughts were on their lips,
Their welcoming was true.
I bless'd them, for I knew
Their inmost thoughts were on their lips,
Their welcoming was true.
There was a strong, endearing spell,
Around their artless ways;
I fear'd no treachery 'neath their smiles,
No falsehood in their praise.
Around their artless ways;
I fear'd no treachery 'neath their smiles,
No falsehood in their praise.
I help'd to weave their daisy chains,
I wreath'd their waving hair;
And, pleased as they, 'twere hard to tell
Which heart was happiest there.
I wreath'd their waving hair;
And, pleased as they, 'twere hard to tell
Which heart was happiest there.
I bless'd them all; and much I doubt
If Time will ever bring
Words to my ear more musical
Than children's welcoming.
If Time will ever bring
Words to my ear more musical
Than children's welcoming.