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Literary
February 28, 1896
The Jasper Weekly Courier
Jasper, Dubois County, Indiana
What is this article about?
A lyrical poem in which the adult speaker addresses her childhood self depicted in a portrait, reminiscing about innocent joys, aspirations, belief in human goodness, and the swift passage of time, while cherishing that inner child as a source of ideals.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
TO MY PORTRAIT.
O little child, soulful eyes of blue
And curls that seem with sunshine woven through,
And mouth so sweetly sad—I once was you.
As you, in golden hours that have sped by,
I chased the shadow-clouds beneath the sky,
And knew to live was sweeter than to die.
As you I tasted first the joy that springs
From ever reaching up to higher things,
And felt the longing aspiration brings.
I then believed that all mankind was good,
And man condemned was man misunderstood.
All human-born one loyal brotherhood.
The woman in the child then led the way,
No doubts confronting what she might essay
To make her all she yearned to be some day.
What minimum of time do mortals own—
How swiftly by the restless hours have flown!
And, lo! the child to-day a woman grown!
Little child-self, well I know thou art
My glad alter ego, of me the happiest part;
For this I hold thee close within my heart.
And if the years be many or be few,
Yet mine in which ideals to pursue,
The woman, wiser, leans, O child, on you!
—Adele T. Stanton, in N. O. Times-Democrat.
O little child, soulful eyes of blue
And curls that seem with sunshine woven through,
And mouth so sweetly sad—I once was you.
As you, in golden hours that have sped by,
I chased the shadow-clouds beneath the sky,
And knew to live was sweeter than to die.
As you I tasted first the joy that springs
From ever reaching up to higher things,
And felt the longing aspiration brings.
I then believed that all mankind was good,
And man condemned was man misunderstood.
All human-born one loyal brotherhood.
The woman in the child then led the way,
No doubts confronting what she might essay
To make her all she yearned to be some day.
What minimum of time do mortals own—
How swiftly by the restless hours have flown!
And, lo! the child to-day a woman grown!
Little child-self, well I know thou art
My glad alter ego, of me the happiest part;
For this I hold thee close within my heart.
And if the years be many or be few,
Yet mine in which ideals to pursue,
The woman, wiser, leans, O child, on you!
—Adele T. Stanton, in N. O. Times-Democrat.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Soliloquy
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Death Mortality
What keywords are associated?
Portrait
Childhood
Aspiration
Ideals
Passage Of Time
Self Reflection
What entities or persons were involved?
Adele T. Stanton, In N. O. Times Democrat.
Literary Details
Title
To My Portrait.
Author
Adele T. Stanton, In N. O. Times Democrat.
Key Lines
O Little Child, Soulful Eyes Of Blue
And Curls That Seem With Sunshine Woven Through,
And Mouth So Sweetly Sad—I Once Was You.
Little Child Self, Well I Know Thou Art
My Glad Alter Ego, Of Me The Happiest Part;