This page has been validated.
JOHN LODGE
Lieut., 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (B.E.F.)
God and the Child
THE blessing of all blessings did attend
The marriage of my friend,
And gave him, to his comfort and his joy,
A baby boy;
To whom, as day by day
The growing mind took strength and spread its wings
In search of many things,
The father would display
Nothing that was not true and pure and fair,
Withholding whatsoe'er,
Being born of ugliness and pain,
Turns to its own again.
So for the child was every season bright
And made for his delight;
No fear he knew of anger and the rod,
But, led by love and gentleness and care,
Found gifts of goodness everywhere
And babbled of the giver, even God.
56
