Page:Pocahontas, and Other Poems.djvu/169

Rh By the wild wanderings of his summer way, Turns like a truant scholar to his home, And yields his nature to sweet influences That purify and save. The ruddy boy Comes with his shouting school-mates from their sport, On the smooth, frozen lake, as the first star Hangs, pure and cold, its twinkling cresset forth, And throwing off his skates with boisterous glee, Hastes to his mother's side. Her tender hand Doth shake the snow-flakes from his glossy curls, And draw him nearer, and with gentle voice Ask of his lessons, while her lifted heart Solicits silently the Sire of Heaven To "bless the lad." The timid infant learns Better to love its sire—and longer sits Upon his knee, and with a velvet lip Prints on his brow such language as the tongue Hath never utter'd. Come thou to life's feast With dove-eyed meekness, and bland charity, And thou shalt find even Winter's rugged blasts The minstrel teacher of thy well-tuned soul, And when the last drop of its cup is drained, Arising with a song of praise, go up To the eternal banquet.