Oh! well-known scenes of childhood's days,
Again ye meet my longing eyes;
And still, as memory backward strays,
A thousand tender visions rise;
Of days when youth's all potent powers
Could trace in light the coming hours,
Of dreams that withered with the flowers
That round my pathway sprung!

When fond Belief, unchill'd by Time,
Built airy castles, high and grand;
When fickle Fancy's dreams sublime
Made Earth appear a fairyland!
Yon school-house seems the same to day—
Each well-remembered turn and way
Are there—yet, ah! how far away
Are childhood's hours from me!

Still, still the same—the cherished scene,
That ever thro' the varying years,
Deep-graven on my heart has been,
In morns of joy—in nights of tears.
And oft in darksome times of pain,
When hope seem'd dead, and comfort vain,
Ye shone upon life's desert plain
A friendly light, and true.

And often when the tide of care
Beat strong against my fragile bark—
When stormy doubt loom'd everywhere,
With nought to light the gloomy dark—
The faith I knew in early days,
Ere yet I trod the world's hard ways,
Led gently through the 'wildering maze,
And whispered words of peace!

Sweet peace, amid the din and strife
And holy thoughts and calm repose;
The promise of a better life—
The joy that from believing flows!
As when amid these scenes I'd stray,
And dream through all the golden day
Of coming years, in bright array,
Till earth would seem a heaven!

The Hand that led Youth's steps aright,
The Love that blessed its careless hours—
Shall they not strengthen for the fight,
Then wreathe the Victor's brow with flowers?
Yes! and ere from these scenes I go,
I've learned what all must come to know—
Earth's wisdom is but empty show—
"The child shall teach the man!"