Glad in my joy, My mother smiled amid these scenes and sounds, And wandered on with gentle step and slow, While I, in boyish frolic, ran before, Chasing the butterflies, or in her path Tossing the gaudy gold of buttercups, Till sometimes, ere we knew, we stood entranced Upon the river's marge. Ever the spell Of lapsing water tamed my playful mood, And I reclined in silent happiness At the tired feet that rested in the shade. There through the long, bright mornings we remained, Watching the noisy ferry-boat that plied Like a slow shuttle through the sunny warp Of threaded silver from a thousand brooks, That took new beauty as it wound away; Or gazing where at Holyoke's verdant base-- Like a slim hound, stretched at his master's feet-- Lay the long, lazy hamlet, Hockanum; Or, upward turning, traced the line that climbed O'er splintered rock and clustered foliage To the bare mountain-top; then followed down The scars of fire and storm, or paths of gloom That marked the curtained gorges, till, at last, Caught by a wisp of white, belated mist, Our vision rose to trace its airy flight Beyond the height, into the distant blue. One morning, while we rested there, she told Of a dear friend upon the other side-- A lady who had loved her--whom she loved-- And then she promised to my eager wish That soon, across the stream I longed to pass, I should go with her to the lady's home. The wishedfor day came slowly--came at last-- My birthday morning--rounding to their close The fourteen summers of my boyhood's life. The early mists were clinging to the side Of the dark mountain as we left the town, Though all the roadside fields were quick with toil In rhythmic motion through the dewy grass The mowers swept, and on the fragrant air Was borne from far the soft, metallic clash Of stones upon the steel. This was the day "So memorably wonderful and sweet Its power of inspiration lingers still,-- So full of her dear presence, so divine With the melodious breathing of her words, And the warm radiance of her loving smile, That tears fall readily as April rain At its recall." And with this day there came The revelation and the genesis Of a new life. In intellect and heart I ceased to be a child, and grew a man. By one long leap I passed the hidden bound That circumscribed my boyhood, and thenceforth Abjured all childish pleasure, and took on The purpose and the burden of my life.