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YOUTH'S SCHEMES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A child still 'neath my mother's hand
Last Line: And frauds of youth that idle be.


A CHILD still 'neath my mother's hand,
My thousand projects I recall,
My home was then in fairyland,
Its nooks and paths I traversed all.
I kept my fancy 'neath my sway,
Yet far abroad was often torn:
The plans of boyhood, where be they?
Where is the house where I was born?

To run to course this earth around,
And find where'er I went success,
The loftiest mountains, seas profound,
No doubt was too much happiness.
In Greece at least I meant to stray,
But fate refused nor could be won.
Plans of my boyhood, where be they?
And marbles of the Parthenon?

Next about love in books I read:
And straightway I resolved to love.
'She who shall own my life (I said)
Shall all my fancy pictures prove.
But my devotion to repay,
None save myself her heart shall share.'
Schemes of my boyhood, where be they?
And last year's roses--tell me where?

Then carrying on my thoughts more high,
In later age I planned demure,
Despising such frivolity,
To march with solid steps and sure.
Casting with manly sense away
The childish dreams, then set at nought.
Schemes of my boyhood, where be they?
And where the lessons Jesus taught?

Spring dies; let autumn take its place:
Still some surviving hopes I keep:
What fortune gives with thanks embrace,
Nor for its confiscations weep.
Though its first glorious boasts betray,
Yet it ne'er quite deserted me.
Schemes of my boyhood, go your way,
And frauds of youth that idle be.





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