THE OLD MAN'S DREAM.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 124, 10 September 1875, Page 6

THE OLD MAN'S DREAM.

H(BY OLIVER W. HOLMES.) Oh, for one hour of youthful joy ! Give back ray twentieth Spring ! I'd rather laugh a bright-haired boy Than reign a greybeard king. Off with the wrinkled spoils of age, Away with learning's crown ; Tear out life's wisdom-written page And dash its trophies down. One moment let my life-blood stream From boyhood's fount of flame ; Give me one giddy, reeling dream Of life, all love and flame. My listening angel heard the prayer, And, calmly smiling, said : " If I but touch thy silvered hair Thy hasty wish hath sped. But is there nothing in thy track To bid thee fondly stay, While the swift seasons hurry back To find the wished-for day P " Ah, truest, best of womankind, Without thee what were life ? One bliss I cannot leave behind — I'll take — my — pro — cious — wife. The angel took a sapphire pen And wrofce with morning's dew : fr The man would be a boy again And be a. husband, too ! And is there nothing yet unsaid, Before the change appears ? Eemember all those gifts have fled With the revolving years." Why, yes ; for memory wou'd recall My fond, paternal joys ; I could not bear to leave them all — I'll take — my — girls — and boys ! The smiling angel dropped his pcn — " Why, this will never do : The man would be a boy again And be a father, too ! " And so I laughed — my laugh avroke The hoxisohold with its noise — • And wrote my dream, when morning broke, To please the grey-haired boys.