Original Poetry.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 263, 27 April 1860, Page 4

Original Poetry.

A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF A BELOVED

CHILD.

How art thou gone, Our. loveliest one, From our embracing eyes! Nor watchful hearts, nor careful skill could save, Howe'er our anxious sighs intense would crave, Thy buoyant form,and beauty from the grave Where thy fair ruin lies. Yet, when we hear ' Some weak plaint near, Our natures yearn to thee,— Aa in those feverish woes, the drear night through, When thou didst plead, to helpless love but true, "Me cannot help:—me know not what to do I""—' We yearn our loss to see. Thy vacant place And many a trace Of thee subdue our sight;— Thy little hat,.coat, shoes; thy pictured books; Thy ark; thy tools and works in busy nooks; Thy bees, fowls, kid, we view; but thy blest looks And voice no more delight. No more thy feet, With fondness fleet, Bun up the hill to bless Thy mother or thy sire with greeting kiss, ... And make our home to both a world of bliss; Thy cherub welcomes our affections miss,— And. bleed a long distress. Thy shape erect, With live wreaths decked, And'ample shining brow; Thy wondrous tales; thy prattle eve and noon, Of God and angels, stars and social moon, And of a better home—ah ! thine, how soon !•—« These are but memories now! Alas! alas! We can but glass Rememberingly thy course,— Still thou art truly featured in each mind ; And all thy beauteous worth is there combined, As once thy clußping arms about us twined,— Fond y with living force. Time, business, change Can ne'er estrange Our feelings from our hoy'a Dear image: ev'n thy fondled babe and ours, So hallowed by thy lips, and who now flowers In charms like thin?, but minds us of thy powers That color all our joy s,— Joys sadly sweet, When we retreat To read our being's page Of inner good. Thy loved rose dies, as thine Own rosy face did fade,—but thy divine Graces and traits, in thought survive to shine And scent our endless age. And, better still, Our Lord's high will Thrones thee His face before, — Where safe companionships are multiplied! Thou art in wisdom's Eden, glorified Above all pangs and death, to joy allied And God for evermore. Yes, thou art where No ills impair - Spirit's improving bloom. Thou mingleat always with pure lives of light, And rays of truth ! they gild the darkest night, And touch, perchance, our souls from heaven's calm That vaults with hope thy tomb. [height Upward we gaze, Through parting's haze, To that vast bending scene Which lures our faith to voyage to its spheres, Whence, haply, thy angelic kindness cheer.o, With holy human tenderness, our tears, And comfort's beam serene. We tarry not In our sad lot For aye; a passing while, And then, beloved, lamented, glorioug child, The breakers of our restless anguish wild Will ebb away to peaceful depths and mild, Starred by thy clearest smile. . • Seeds in thy sod . '•• - - Eise up from God, Fragrant with Paradise; And the fine germ of thy immortal power Shall spring from mortal dust in radiant flower, Too precious for destruction to devour, Meet for perfection's skies. Thy sisters weep, Awake, asleep, And thy stored words recite ; Thy brothers, pine to hear thy call for play; We all would hear thee to "Our Fader'' pray, As late, our hearth beside; and yet we stay, Close with thee,,in His sight. What though no more, Our mountains o'er, The ruddy morn arise To light thee to our breasts, in eager love ! ' Yet thy bright shadow hsiunts us from above, Where'er we grieve, or muse, converse, or move,— To win from earth our eyes. But now we droop," Affliction* group, . Clinging aronnd thy clay; Devotion's thicket rooting near thy sleep : Together all our branching sorrows keep Wreathing o'er thee a gloom, whose tear-drips creep In constant rills away. So is it now; Yet do we bow To that Paternal will Whose heaviest stroke is but the emphasis Of love; it warns us to be less remiss Iv duty's path, which leads through richest blisf, And our right trust fulfil. Our thoughts wave out,. . f 1r .... Past fear and doubt, To that unbounded view •• Where thou art veiled in light, high on the shore Of happiness,—beyond the. strife and roar .07storms, or foes; there we shall nwet.9ffoe>DaorOj Nor ache with one adieu, E.

April 20,1860.