<h2><SPAN name="page40"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>LIFE</h2>
<p class="poetry">Life, like a romping schoolboy, full of
glee,<br/>
Doth bear us on his shoulder for a time.<br/>
There is no path too steep for him to climb.<br/>
With strong, lithe limbs, as agile and as free,<br/>
As some young roe, he speeds by vale and sea,<br/>
By flowery mead, by mountain peak sublime,<br/>
And all the world seems motion set to rhyme,<br/>
Till, tired out, he cries, “Now carry me!”<br/>
In vain we murmur; “Come,” Life says,
“Fair play!”<br/>
And seizes on us. God! he goads us so!<br/>
He does not let us sit down all the day.<br/>
At each new step we feel the burden grow,<br/>
Till our bent backs seem breaking as we go,<br/>
Watching for Death to meet us on the way.</p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />