When to the garden of untroubled thought br I came of late, and saw the open door, br And wished again to enter, and explore br The sweet, wild ways with stainless bloom inwrought, br And bowers of innocence with beauty fraught, br It seemed some purer voice must speak before br I dared to tread that garden loved of yore, br That Eden lost unknown and found unsought. br br Then just within the gate I saw a child, -- br A stranger-child, yet to my heart most dear; br He held his hands to me, and softly smiled br With eyes that knew no shade of sin or fear: br "Come in," he said, "and play awhile with me;" br "I am the little child you used to be.