Will he tell us of an auction , or of a lost pocketbook , or a show of beautiful wax figures , or of some monstrous beast more horrible than any in the caravan ? I guess the latter . See how he uplifts the bell in his right hand , and shakes it slowly at first , then with a hurried motion , till the clapper seems to strike both sides at once , and the sounds are scattered forth in quick succession , far and near . Ding-dong ! Ding-dong ! Ding-dong ! Now he raises his clear , loud voice , above all the din of the town ; it drowns the buzzing talk of many tongues , and draws each man 's mind from his own business ; it rolls up and down the echoing street and ascends to the hushed chamber of the sick , and penetrates downward to the cellar kitchen , where the hot cook turns from the fire to listen . Who , of all that address the public ear , whether in church , or court-house , or hall of state , has such an attentive audience as the town crier ? What saith the people 's orator ? `` Strayed from her home , a LITTLE GIRL , of five years old , in a blue silk frock and white pantalets , with brown curling hair and hazel eyes . Whoever will bring her back to her afflicted mother -- '' Stop , stop , town crier ! The lost is found . O , my pretty Annie , we forgot to tell your mother of our ramble , and she is in despair , and has sent the town crier to bellow up and down the streets , afrighting old and young , for the loss of a little girl who has not once let go my hand ! Well , let us hasten homeward ; and as we go , forget not to thank Heaven , my Annie , that , after wandering a little way into the world , you may return at the first summons , with an untainted and unwearied heart , and be a happy child again . But I have gone too far astray for the town crier to call me back . Sweet has been the charm of childhood on my spirit , throughout my ramble with little Annie ! Say not that it has been a waste of precious moments , an idle matter , a babble of childish talk , and a revery of childish imaginations , about topics unworthy of a grown man 's notice . Has it been merely this ? Not so ; not so . They are not truly wise who would affirm it .
As the pure breath of children revives the life of aged men , so is our moral nature revived by their free and simple thoughts , their native feeling , their airy mirth , XXXXX little cause or none , their grief , soon roused and soon allayed .
about after as at for from of than till with