Poems Every Child Should Know Part 32

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.

WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE!

"Woodman, Spare That Tree" (by George Pope Morris, 1802-64) is included in this collection because I have loved it all my life, and I never knew any one who could or would offer a criticism upon it. Its value lies in its recognition of childhood's pleasures.

Woodman, spare that tree!

Touch not a single bough!

In youth it sheltered me, And I'll protect it now.

'Twas my forefather's hand That placed it near his cot; There, woodman, let it stand, Thy ax shall harm it not.

That old familiar tree, Whose glory and renown Are spread o'er land and sea-- And wouldst thou hew it down?

Woodman, forbear thy stroke!

Cut not its earth-bound ties; Oh, spare that aged oak Now towering to the skies!

When but an idle boy, I sought its grateful shade; In all their gus.h.i.+ng joy Here, too, my sisters played.

My mother kissed me here; My father pressed my hand-- Forgive this foolish tear, But let that old oak stand.

My heart-strings round thee cling, Close as thy bark, old friend!

Here shall the wild-bird sing, And still thy branches bend.

Old tree! the storm still brave!

And, woodman, leave the spot; While I've a hand to save, Thy ax shall harm it not.

GEORGE POPE MORRIS.

ABIDE WITH ME.

"Abide With Me" (Henry Francis Lyte, 1793-1847) appeals to our natural longing for the unchanging and to our love of security.

Abide with me! fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pa.s.s away; Change and decay in all around I see: O Thou who changest not, abide with me!

HENRY FRANCIS LYTE.

LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT

"Lead, Kindly Light," by John Henry Newman (1801-90), was written when Cardinal Newman was in the stress and strain of perplexity and mental distress and bodily pain. The poem has been a star in the darkness to thousands. It was the favourite poem of President McKinley.

Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on, The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on.

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on.

I loved the garish day; and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone, And with the morn those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost a while.

JOHN HENRY NEWMAN.

THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER.

'Tis the last rose of summer Left blooming alone; All her lovely companions Are faded and gone; No flower of her kindred, No rose-bud is nigh, To reflect back her blushes, Or give sigh for sigh.

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one!

To pine on the stem; Since the lovely are sleeping, Go, sleep thou with them.

Thus kindly I scatter Thy leaves o'er the bed Where thy mates of the garden Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow, When friends.h.i.+ps decay, And from Love's s.h.i.+ning circle The gems drop away.

When true hearts lie withered, And fond ones are flown, O! who would inhabit This bleak world alone?

THOMAS MOORE.

ANNIE LAURIE.

"Annie Laurie" finds a place in this collection because it is the most popular song on earth. Written by William Douglas, (----).

Maxwelton braes are bonnie Where early fa's the dew, And it's there that Annie Laurie Gie'd me her promise true-- Gie'd me her promise true, Which ne'er forgot will be; And for bonnie Annie Laurie I'd lay me doune and dee.

Her brow is like the snawdrift, Her throat is like the swan, Her face it is the fairest That e'er the sun shone on-- That e'er the sun shone on; And dark blue is her e'e; And for bonnie Annie Laurie I'd lay me doune and dee.

Like dew on the gowan lying Is the fa' o' her fairy feet; Like the winds in summer sighing, Her voice is low and sweet-- Her voice is low and sweet; And she's a' the world to me; And for bonnie Annie Laurie I'd lay me doune and dee.

WILLIAM DOUGLAS.

THE s.h.i.+P OF STATE.

A president of a well-known college writes me that "The s.h.i.+p of State"

was his favourite poem when he was a boy, and did more than any other to shape his course in life. Longfellow (1807-82).

Sail on, sail on, O s.h.i.+p of State!

Sail on, O Union, strong and great!

Humanity, with all its fears, With all the hopes of future years, Is hanging breathless on thy fate!

We know what Master laid thy keel, What Workmen wrought thy ribs of steel, Who made each mast, and sail, and rope; What anvils rang, what hammers beat, In what a forge and what a heat Were forged the anchors of thy hope!

Fear not each sudden sound and shock-- 'Tis of the wave, and not the rock; 'Tis but the flapping of the sail, And not a rent made by the gale!

In spite of rock, and tempest roar, In spite of false lights on the sh.o.r.e, Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!

Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee.

Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith, triumphant o'er our fears, Are all with thee, are all with thee!

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.

The Const.i.tution and Laws are here personified, and addressed as "The s.h.i.+p of State."