I HEARD a little child beneath the stars
⁠Talk as he ran along
To some sweet riddle in his mind that seemed
⁠A-tiptoe into song.

In his dark eyes lay a wild universe, —
⁠Wild forests, peaks, and crests;
Angels and fairies, giants, wolves and he
⁠Were that world's only guests.

Elsewhere was home and mother, his warm bed: —
⁠Now, only God alone
Could, armed with all His power and wisdom, make
⁠Earths richer than his own.

O Man! — thy dreams, thy passions, hopes, desires! —
⁠He in his pity keep
A homely bed where love may lull a child's