BEAUTIFUL CHILD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1181, 21 October 1882, Page 2

BEAUTIFUL CHILD.

Beautiful child by thy mother’s knee, In the mystic future what wilt thou be ? A demon of sin. or an angel sublime— A poison Upas, or innocent thyme— A spirit of evil flashing down With the lurid lisrht of a fiery crown— Or gliding up with a shining' track, Like the morning star that ne’er looks back. Daintiest dreamer that ever smiled, Which wilt thou be, my beautiful child ? Beautiful child in my garden bowers, Friend of the butterflies, birds, and flowers Pure as the sparkling crystalline stream, Jewels of truth in thy fairy eyes beam, Was there ever a whiter soul than thine Worshipped by love in a mortal shrine? My heart thou hast gladdened for two sweet years With rainbows of hope through mists of tears— Mists beyond which thy sunny smile, With itshalo of glory beams all the while. Beautiful child, to thy look is given A gleam serene—not of earth but of Heaven ; With th}’ tell-tale eyes and prattling tongue, Would thou could’st ever thus be young. Like the liquid strain of the mocking bird, From stair to hall thy voice is heard : How oft’ in the garden nooks thou’rt found, W’ith flowers thy curly head around, And kneeling beside me with figure so quaint, Oh I Who would not dote on my infant saint? Beautiful child, what thy fate shall be, Perchance is wisely hidden from me ; A fallen star thou may’st leave my side, And of sorrow and shame become the bride— Shivering, quivering, through the cold street, With a curse behind and before thy feet, Ashamed to live, and afraid to die ; No home, no friend, and a pitiless sky. Merciful Father—my brains grow wild— Oh keep from evil my beautiful child. Beautiful child, may’st thou soar above, A warbling cherub of joy and love ; A drop on eternity’s mighty sea, A blossom of life’s immortal tree— Floating, flowing evermore, In the blessed light of the golden shore. And as I gaze on thy sinless bloom And thy radiant face, they dispel my gloom ; I feel He will keep thee undeflled, Aud His love protect my beautiful child.