INNOCENT HOURS OF CHILDHOOD.

ny PERCIYAL.
{"newspaper_name": "American watchman and Delaware advertiser.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": ""}

Dear moments Of childhood how sweetIy We smile,
AS gaze on the vista of years that are gone
Ye smile IN your innocent oveliness, while


In the downh of life we are fastening on,
could return to your beautiful prime


When ye shone like the morn Of clear summer day,
And my spirit meier thought how the footsteps of time
Like the flight of an eagle, were Fastening away
o could return TO those innocent hours


When my heart knew no SORROW that fed not as soon
AS the soft drops of April that fall on the flowers
And vanish at once in the bright air of noon;
o then might taste of the silent delight


That beams in the eye of an infant, and flows,
As peacefully on as the dove in her fight,


Orthe dew stealing out of the cup OF a rose.
o then mgltlay all my sorrows at rest,


And be calm as the first whisper d zephyr of spring.
When it comes on the pnions Of down from the west,
And shakes the soft fragrance of May from its wing
then might know what it is to be free


From the burden that presses the heart the grave
Might charm back the feeling of brightness and gee,
The first look of love and Of gentleness gave.
But no-I have passd from the fresh blooming Shores
Where life gathers round it its verdure and flowers;
can fondly look backward-but an never more
Can taste OF your sweetness--ye innocent hours
Then whittier, alb whittier, escape from the night
Which darl1ens more deeply the farther go
Look out from the gloom some benevolent light!
Like star on the traveller, who wanders below
light now is breskng--it comes from above,
Still clearer and purer than lfe's early dawn
1t descends with The motionless flight OF a dove,
And guides me with safety and cheerluness on.
Then let not turn to the innocent hours


ofchldhood, when brighter hours wait me before;
There are thorns in es earliest and tendercst flowers
But yonder are flowers that shall sting me no more.