By the Sea, and Other Verses

<h2><SPAN name="A_SONG_OF_TENS" id="A_SONG_OF_TENS">A SONG OF TENS</SPAN></h2> <p class="title">TO MARY</p> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">At the tenth birthday all the world looks fair;<br/></span> <span class="i0">The twentieth scarcely shades it with a care;<br/></span> <span class="i0">At the third decade life soars grand and high;<br/></span> <span class="i0">But with the fourth its heyday passes by.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">The fifth comes on,&mdash;a century's half is told;<br/></span> <span class="i0">The sixth,&mdash;our little girl is growing old.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Another half-score milestone passed, and then<br/></span> <span class="i0">We've reached the allotted three-score years and ten.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Years may be added; should they come to thee<br/></span> <span class="i0">May Faith and Wisdom their companion be;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Hope thy sure anchor; Peace with thee abide,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And Love still be thy light at eventide.<br/></span></div> </div> <hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</SPAN></span></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />