Tho' some folk that fain would be wise, I've been telling 'bout auld Granny Broun. BLIND JOHN, OR THE LIFE AND AGE OF MAN. The morn is fair, and old blind John Has tottered to the door, And seats him on the moss-grown stone, He leans his head upon his hand, His elbow on his knee, For he is burdened with the weight But hill and dale are laughing with The flowers are forth, and happy trains Benlomond's doff'd his winter's cap, And Cartha's vales are gay, And gowans gather in the lap, Of lovely laughing May. K The blackbird's singing on the bough, The lark is in the blue, And happy schoolboys mimicking The voice of the cuckoo. John leans and listens, for his heart And moralizes till his eyes, With tears are running o'er. "I once was joyous as yourselves, Aye! laugh and shout ye merry elves, Be happy while ye can, Nor listen while blind John runs o'er, The life and age of Man. "In youth our hearts are lighted up, With hope's delusive beam, And earth is an enchanted place, And life a joyous dream. There's beauty underneath our feet, There's music in the air, There's glory in the heavens above, "But Time steals on with noiseless tread, And tho' the happy boy May feel a change, 'tis still to him A change from joy to joy; Then hopes of high achievements start, Of great things to be done, Of undiscovered treasures vast, Of battles to be won. "The heroes of the present time, A hero worth them all; And then what dreams of happiness, What visions rich and rare, What gorgeous towers and palaces, What castles in the air. "Then love alights upon his heart, With all its joys and pains, He sees but those love beaming eyes, And all beside is dim, O she is fair and beautiful! Worth all the world to him. "He drinks the strange mysterious draught, The sweeter for its pain, And reels delirious with a joy, He'll never taste again ; For time steals on, and oh how soon His visions melt away, And clouds are louring in the sky, "And see he sadly sits at last, More blest than his has been. |