Published by ones and Son and Wightman and trump London 1827

Printed Triggs

THE SCHOOL-BOY.

THE SCHOOL-BOY had been rambling all the day,
A careless, thoughtless idler, till the night

Came on, and warned him homeward; then he left
The meadows where the morning had been passed,
Chasing the butterfly, and took the road
Toward the cottage where his mother dwelt:
He had her parting blessing, and she watched
Once more to breathe the welcome to her child,
Who sauntered lazily — ungrateful boy!

Till deeper darkness came o'er sky and earth,
And then he ran, till, almost breathless grown,
He passed within the wicket-gate which led
Into the village church-yard- then he paused,
And earnestly looked round; for o'er his head
The gloomy cypress waved, and at his feet
Lay the last bed of many a villager.

But on again he pressed with quickened step,

Whistling aloud to keep his courage up."

The bat came flapping by; the ancient church
Threw its deep shadows o'er the path he trod,
And the boy trembled like the aspen leaf;

For now he fancied that all shapeless forms
Came flitting by him, each with a bony hand,
And motion as if threatening; while a weight
Unearthly pressed the satchel and the slate

He strove to keep within his grasp. The wind
Played with the feather that adorned his cap,
And seemed to whisper something horrible.
The clouds had gathered thickly round the moon,
But now and then her light shone gloriously
Upon the sculptured tombs and humble graves,
And in a moment all was dark again.

O'ercome with terror, the pale boy sank down,
And wildly gazed around him, till his eye
Fell on a stone, on which these warning words
Were carved: --

I wait not for the dying.

In early youth you laughed at me,

And, laughing, passed life's morning;

But in thy age I laugh at thee—

Too late to give thee warning."

"DEATH! thy shadowy form I see,
The steps of Time pursuing;
Like him, thou comest rapidly -

What deed must thou be doing?"