Youth and Age

With cheerful step the traveller
Pursues his early way.
When first the dimly-dawning east
Reveals the rising day.

He bounds along his craggy road,
He hastens up the height.
And all he sees and all he hears
Administer delight.

And if the mist, retiring slow.
Roll round its wavy white.
He thinks the morning vapours hide
Some beauty from his sight

But when behind the western clouds
Departs the fading day,
How wearily the traveller
Pursues his evening way !

Sorely along the craggy road
His painful footsteps creep,
And slow, with many a feeble pause,
He labours up the steep.

And if the mists of night close round,
They fill his soul with fear ;
He dreads some unseen precipice.
Some hidden danger near.

So cheerfully does youth begin
Life's pleasant morning stage ;
Alas ! the evening traveller feels
The fears of wary age !