Melodies and memories

LOVE AND HOME. 23
And who remembers not, with sweet delight,
The early years of childhood, calm and bright ?
Who does not love to hold life's mirror back to youth,
And ponder oft on days of guileless joy and truth ?
And who, oh ! who can fail to clearly see
That " Heaven lies about us in our infancy?"
And tho' the toils, and cares, and pains of age,
Oft-times our thoughts and feelings much engage,
We feel renew'd in heart, and young once more,
When merry, happy children gambol o'er
The sunny, summer sward, or by the hearth,
Repressing grief and rousing blessed mirth.
Yes ! Heaven is kind to us in every way,
Altho' we often wander far astray ;
But chiefly in the blessings to us sent
Thro' the dear children who to us are lent,
That by their gentle, artless aid, we may
Rise nearer heaven before life's final day.
Heaven help us all to ope our hearts to love
From human breasts and from the source above ;
Help us to train, and to rejoice with youth,
And give us golden gleams of God-like truth,
Such as to childhood's sinless souls are given,
While still so near to happiness and heaven.
A BAIRNIE'S FITMARK.
A wee bairnie's fitmark ! I'd tell ye what it says,
It speaks to me o' harmless and happy gouden days,
Brings thochts o' guileless pleasure, o' toddlin' oot an' in,
Wadin' burns an' clim'in' braes, till langest days are dune.