THE OLD CLOCK.
They say my first breathings of infant delight
Were bestow'd on the "dicky birds," gilded and bright,
Which shone forth on thy case, that the cake or the toy
Ne'er illumined my eyes with such beamings of joy.
Full well I remember my wonder profound—
What caused thee to tick and thy hands to move round,
Till I watch'd a safe moment and mounted the chair,
Intent to discover the why and the where.
Were bestow'd on the "dicky birds," gilded and bright,
Which shone forth on thy case, that the cake or the toy
Ne'er illumined my eyes with such beamings of joy.
Full well I remember my wonder profound—
What caused thee to tick and thy hands to move round,
Till I watch'd a safe moment and mounted the chair,
Intent to discover the why and the where.
I revell'd in ruin 'mid wheels, weights, and springs;
What sport for the fingers, what glorious things!
No doubt I gain'd something of knowledge, but lo!
Full soon 'twas declared "the old clock didn't go."
The culprit was seized, but all punishment vain;
I was caught at such doings again and again.
'Twas the favourite mischief, and nothing would cure,
Till a lock kept the pendulum sacred and sure.
What sport for the fingers, what glorious things!
No doubt I gain'd something of knowledge, but lo!
Full soon 'twas declared "the old clock didn't go."
The culprit was seized, but all punishment vain;
I was caught at such doings again and again.
'Twas the favourite mischief, and nothing would cure,
Till a lock kept the pendulum sacred and sure.
The corner thou stood'st in was always my place,
When "I shall" or "I sha'n't" had insured my disgrace;
Where my storm of defiance might wear itself out,
Till the happy laugh banish'd the frown and the pout.
When a playmate was coming, how often my eye
Would greet thee to see if the moment were nigh;
And impatiently fancied I never had found
Thy hand such a laggard in travelling round.
When "I shall" or "I sha'n't" had insured my disgrace;
Where my storm of defiance might wear itself out,
Till the happy laugh banish'd the frown and the pout.
When a playmate was coming, how often my eye
Would greet thee to see if the moment were nigh;
And impatiently fancied I never had found
Thy hand such a laggard in travelling round.
Thou bringest back visions of heart-bounding times,
When thy midnight hour chorus'd the rude carol rhymes;
When our Christmas was noted for festival mirth,
And the merry New Year had a boisterous birth.
I remember the station thou hadst in the hall,
Where the holly and mistletoe deck'd the rough wall;
Where we mock'd at thy voice till the herald of day
Peep'd over the hills in his mantle of grey.
When thy midnight hour chorus'd the rude carol rhymes;
When our Christmas was noted for festival mirth,
And the merry New Year had a boisterous birth.
I remember the station thou hadst in the hall,
Where the holly and mistletoe deck'd the rough wall;
Where we mock'd at thy voice till the herald of day
Peep'd over the hills in his mantle of grey.
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