In School Days

Still sits the schoolhouse by the road, A ragged beggar sunning; Aronnd it still the sumachs grow. And blackbcrry vincs are running. Within, the master's desk is seen, Deep sciirred by raps official : The warping floor, the battered scats, The jack-knife's carved initi.tl. The charcoal frescoes on its walls, lis door's worn sill, betraying The feet that. creeping slow to school, Went storming outto piaying 1 I-ong years ago a winter sun Shonc over ït at setting; Lit up its western window panes, And low eaves' ïcy fretting. It touched the tangled, golden curls, And brown eyes full of grieving, Of one wlio still her steps delayea When all the school were Jcaying. For near her stood the little boy Her childish favor singled ; II is cap pulled down upon a face Where pride and shame were mingled. Piishing with restless feet the snow To ritfht and left he lingered - As resltessly her tiny hands The blue checked aprou tingered. He saw her lift her eyes : he feit The soit hand's liifht careMiof, And heard the trein b] ing ol her voice. As if a fault confessing. "l'm sorry that I spelt the word; I hate to go above you, Because" - the brown eyea lower feil - "Because, you sec, I love you !M Still memory of a gray-haired man That sweet child face is showing. Dear girl I - the grasses on her grave Have forty years bern growing. lic Iives to tewn in life's hard school How few who pass above liim Laineut their iriumph and his loss I-ike her- because they love him.