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THE FATHER AND HIS CHILD.
There dwells a tenderness in every thought,
Too pure for earth, Something that breathes of heaven
Is in the graceful movements of its limbs,
That whispers to his heart, "this angel-one
Is half of heaven!"—and so he feels a love,
Sacred, distinct from all on earth beside.
To which all other love is poor—so much
Is it devoid of passion!
Children are
The earthly part of angels—sent on earth
To minister unto affection's wants;
Oh! when the heart is sad—when wasted hopes,
And broken friendships, and affliction's rod,
And all the dreams ambition called to life
Are blasted, ere the buds had time to bloom,
That never yet have borne but bitter fruit,
Of sin, or of repentance—when all these
Press heavily upon the aching heart,
How soft the accents of his darling child
Fall on the father's ear! He hears, and feels
Less wretched than before—he hears and feels
That one heart loves him still, amidst the gloom
Of his wrecked fortunes—and he hopes once more,
And when the love affection once enjoyed,
And still remembers vividly, is lost
Forever to the heart; when pallid death
Hath laid his hand upon the loved one's brow,
And dimmed the sparkling eye; when the cold earth
Too pure for earth, Something that breathes of heaven
Is in the graceful movements of its limbs,
That whispers to his heart, "this angel-one
Is half of heaven!"—and so he feels a love,
Sacred, distinct from all on earth beside.
To which all other love is poor—so much
Is it devoid of passion!
Children are
The earthly part of angels—sent on earth
To minister unto affection's wants;
Oh! when the heart is sad—when wasted hopes,
And broken friendships, and affliction's rod,
And all the dreams ambition called to life
Are blasted, ere the buds had time to bloom,
That never yet have borne but bitter fruit,
Of sin, or of repentance—when all these
Press heavily upon the aching heart,
How soft the accents of his darling child
Fall on the father's ear! He hears, and feels
Less wretched than before—he hears and feels
That one heart loves him still, amidst the gloom
Of his wrecked fortunes—and he hopes once more,
And when the love affection once enjoyed,
And still remembers vividly, is lost
Forever to the heart; when pallid death
Hath laid his hand upon the loved one's brow,
And dimmed the sparkling eye; when the cold earth
