"I look around and see
The evil ways of men,
And Oh! beloved child!
I'm more than reconciled,
To thy departure then.
"The little arms that clasped me,
The innocent lips that pressedWould they have been as pure, Till now? as when of yore
I lulled thee on my breast.
"Now like a dew-drop shrined
Within a crystal stone,
Thou'rt safe in heaven, my dove!
Safe with the source of love,
The Everlasting One.
"And when the hour arrives,
From flesh that sets me free,
Thy spirit may await-
The first at heaven's gate-
To meet and welcome me.
I saw the young mother in tenderness bend,
O'er the couch of her slumbering boy;
And she kissed the soft lips as they murmured her
While the dreamer lay smiling in joy.
Oh sweet as a rose-bud encircled with dew,
When its fragrance is flung on the air!
So fresh and so bright to the mother he seemed,
As he lay in his innocence there.
But I saw when she gazed on the same lovely form,
Pale as marble, and silent and cold,
But paler and colder the beautiful boy,
And the tale of her sorrow was told.
But the Healer was there, who had smitten her
`And taken her treasure away,
To allure her to heaven, he has placed it on high, And the mourner will sweetly obey;
There had whispered a voice-'twas the voice of her God
"I love thee-I love thee-pass under the rod." MRS. DANA.
'BEHOLD HE SLEEPETH!"
I ENTERED in a darkened room,
The chamber of the dead;
Behold a child most sweetly fair,
In little shroud of white, lay there-
Holy and calm his features were,
Though light and life had fled:
And tearful eyes did vigil keep-
No more he'll wake, no more he'll weep-
Sweetly asleep-sweetly asleep.
I entered in the graveyard lone,
With sad and solemn tread;
They laid that angel child to rest,
Calmly within the earth's cold breast;
And mourners hushed their wailing, lest
They wake the silent dead;
Down in the grave, silent and deep,
No more to sorrow or to weep-
Sweetly asleep-sweetly asleep.
Methought I entered in the fold
Of heavenly peace and joy;
And lo! beside "still waters," I
A lovely angel did descry,
Slumbering most calmly, quietly-
That angel was your boy!
And seraphs' eyes bright vigil keep,-
No more he'll sorrow, no more weep—
Sweetly asleep-sweetly asleep.
By faith I entered in the fold
Which the Great Shepherd tendeth;
Lo! in His arms a lamb most fair,
Safely the Shepherd guardeth there
A "little one," with watchful care,
He loveth and defendeth.
Then for your lost one do not weep,
Your little lamb the Lord will keep,
Sweetly asleep-sweetly asleep.
Is meditated action; robbed of this,
Her sole support, she languishes and dies.
We perish also; for we live by hope
And by desire; we see by the glad light
And breathe the sweet air of futurity.
And so we live, or else we have no life,
To-morrow-nay, perchance this very hour-
(For every moment hath its own to-morrow.)
THE CHILD'S LAST GOOD NIGHT.
Good night!-good night !—I go to sleep,
Murmured the little child;
And oh the ray of heaven that broke
On the sweet lips that faintly spoke
That soft "Good night!" and smiled.
That angel smile, that loving look
From the dim closing eyes,
The peace of that pure brow! But there,
Ay, on that brow so young and fair,
An awful shadow lies.
The gloom of evening-of the boughs
That o'er yon window wave-
Nay-nay-within those silent walls
A deeper, darker shadow falls,
The twilight of the grave.
The twilight of the grave-for still
Fast comes the fluttering breath,
One fading smile-one look of love,
A murmur as from brooding dove,
"Good night!"—and this is death!
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