The Argosy — page 228: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

211 WHEN! © WHEN I am young again I'll hoard my bliss, Nor dream that inexhaustible it is, Remembering old age comes after this, Joy grows to pain ; Nor waste one moment of youth’s rose-sweet hours, Nor trample one of all its countless flowers, But drink the summer sun and soft spring showers, When I am young again! I will be wise with wisdom dearly won By those who through life’s wood have nearly run, Learn what to do, or what to leave undone, Dare or refrain ; I will not seek into my mouth to take The bitter apple of the acrid lake ; But at clear fountains all my thirsts will slake, When I am young again! I will not brush the bloom to reach the core, Remembering how it chanced with me before, And bloom, once lost, returns not any more— Hard cores remain :— I will fence round with prudence, and secure A lasting bloom whose freshness shall endure ; Oh, I will guard my peach of youth, be sure, When I am young again ! When I am young again I’ll spend no breath In bitter words the heart remembereth, When bitterness is swallowed up by Death Holding sole reign ; I'll love so well that if they pass to sleep Before me, I shall have no watch to keep Over their tears—only my tears to weep, When I am young again ! I will not lightly joy, nor idly grieve, Nor for a heaven itself one soul deceive, Nor will I be deceived, vainly believe, Nor love in vain! | Come back, lost youth! Oh, Fate, that one gift give ; Then I will show that I have learned to live. Youth shall be wise, and two and two make five, When I am young again! K. NESBIT. COMICAOO SH mn