I have watched thee from thine infancy The dews of death are falling fast Thou wast a lovely babe when first And trace resemblance to him Who is in glory now. Unconsciously my comforter, Before thy tongue could speak, I heard thy little footsteps come Thy childhood passed, and then I saw Fresh as it was at first; Children. But the broad leaf that sheathed it once Has all too narrow grown, And it must face the storm and wind Unsheltered and alone. Listen, my child, thou knowest well And trust thy father's God: To thee, as now to me, he will I hear my Saviour calling me, To his blessed home above; "THE DOVE ON THE CROSS." 283 OME to me, O ye children! For I hear you at your play, And the questions that perplexed me Have vanished quite away. Ye open the eastern windows, That look towards the sun, Where thoughts are singing swallows And the brooks of morning run. In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine, But in mine is the wind of Autumn Ah! what would the world be to us What the leaves are to the forest, That to the world are children; Come to me, ye children! And whisper in my ear What the birds and the winds are singing In your sunny atmosphere. For what are all our contrivings, Ye are better than all the ballads That ever were sung or said; For ye are living poems, And all the rest are dead. LONGFELLOW, The Only Child. CHILD'S TALENT. OD intrusts to all Talents, few or many; None so young or small That they have not any. Though the great and wise Have a greater number, Yet my one I prize, And it must not slumber. God will surely ask, Ere I enter heaven, Have I done the task Which to me was given. Little drops of rain Bring the springing flowers, And I may attain Much by little powers. Every little mite, Every little measure, Helps to spread the light, Helps to swell the treasure. THE ONLY CHILD. WOULD I had a sister, For I feel myself alone- To wake its soothing tone; ANON. 285 A bird without its tender mate, For oh, it is a cheerless thing I have a gentle mother, A father, whose delight is still But yet they treat me as their child, When o'er my form they bend; But one I feel to want at once The sister and the friend, I love my parents, who so oft My sorrows have beguiled; To be an only child ! I wish I had a sister Who could kneel with me in prayer, Whose little griefs I could assuage, With whom my joys to share; |