The Home Circle | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 8, 1879

The Home Circle.

" 'When I'm a man!' is the poetry of youth. 'When I was young!' is the poetry of old age."

"WHEN I'm a man," the stripling cries, And strives the coming years to scan— "Ah, then I shall be strong and wise, When I'm a man!"

"When I was young," the old man sighs, "Bravely the lark and linnet sung Their carol under sunny skies, When I was young!"

"When I'm a man, I shall be free To guard the right, the truth uphold." "When I was young I bent no knee To power or gold."

"Then shall I satisfy my soul With yonder prize, when I'm a man." "Too late I found how vain the goal To which I ran."

"When I'm a man these idle toys Aside forever shall be flung." "There was no poison in my joys When I was young."

The boy's bright dream is all before; The man's romance lies far behind. Had we the present and no more, Fate were unkind.

But brother, toiling in the night, Still count yourself not all unblest If in the east there gleams a light, Or in the west. —Blackwood's Magazine.