Boy and the Age, The · The Taiwan Way: What I Learned in Art Class

“Take me by the hand and lead me,
To the Beauty that shallbe,”
Said a Boy, and gave his rosy palm
To the wrinkled Century.

Answered the chronic Sire,—
“I joy in thy desire,
But thy limbs are soft and small,
And I must march unresting;
I hear the Ages call!”

“I will step small and often,
‘Till I am high and strong,”
Said the little one, in tears.

“Come,” beckoned the vigorous Grey:
The Boy leapt laughing along,—
And now a MAN goes striding away,
In the van of the lagging years.

Title: Boy and the Age, The
Alternative Title: Take me by the hand and lead me
Creator: George Shepard Burleigh
Bibliographic Citation: George S. Burleigh Papers, 1825-1902. John Hay Library, Brown University. Small Scrapbook 100; For The Republican; V.II. 43
Date: 1850
Subject: Human Destiny
note: Date based on The Republican being under the editorship of William Burleigh for a few months of 1850. Subject to revision.; Under the S.C. Merrigate pseudonym; Text proceeding this poem reads: "[There is one peculiarity in the following poem, the mention of which may interest the curious in psychological investigation—it is literally a dream, written down immediately after waking, word for word, as it impressed itself upon the brain of the sleeper.—ED. REPUBLICAN.]"; The intimacy of this reference from the editor leads me to think that George's brother William was in charge.