DEATH OF A BEAUTIFUL BOY.
I saw thee at thy mother's side, when she was marble cold,
And thou wert like some cherub form cast in ethereal mould,
But when the sudden pang of grief oppressed thine infant thought,
And 'mid thy clear and radiant eye a liquid crystal wrought,
I thought how strong that faith must be that breaks a mother's tie,
And bids her leave her darling's tears for other hands to dry.
I saw thee in thine hour of sport, beside thy father's bower,
Amid his broad and bright parterre, thyself the fairest flower;
I heard thy tuneful voice ring out upon the summer air,
As though some bird of Eden poured its joyous carol there,
And lingered with delighted gaze on happy childhood's charms,
Which once the blest Redeemer loved, and folded in his arms.
I saw thee scan the classic page, with high and glad surprise,
And saw the sun of science beam, as on an eaglet's eyes,
And marked thy strong and brilliant mind arouse to bold pursuit,
And from the tree of knowledge pluck its richest, rarest fruit,
Yet still from such precocious power I shrank with secret fear,
A shuddering presage that thy race must soon be ended here.
I saw thee in the house of God, and loved the reverent air
With which thy beauteous head was bowed, low in thy guileless prayer,
Yet little deemed how soon thy place would be with that blest band,
Who ever near the Eternal Throne in sinless worship stand;
And little deemed how soon the tomb must lock thy glorious charms,
And wing thine ardent soul to find a sainted mother's arms.