Page:The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson, Vailima Edition, Volume 8, 1922.djvu/489

NEW POEMS And being landed, with considerate eyes,

Betwixt her elders dealt her double prize;

The small to me, the greater to her sire.

As painters now advance and now retire

Before the growing canvas, and anon

Once more approach and put the climax on:

So she a while withdrew, her piece she viewed—

For half a moment half supposed it good—

Spied her mistake, nor sooner spied than ran

To remedy; and with the greater fan,

In gracious better thought, equipped the guest.

From ill to well, from better on to best,

Arts move; the homely, like the plastic kind;

And high ideals fired that infant mind.

Once more she backed, once more a space apart

Considered and reviewed her work of art:

Doubtful at first, and gravely yet a while;

Till all her features blossomed in a smile.

And the child, waking at the call of bliss,

To each she ran, and took and gave a kiss.

CVIII

S in their flight the birds of song

Halt here and there in sweet and sunny dales

But halt not overlong;

The time one rural song to sing

They pause; then following bounteous gales

Steer forward on the wing: 475