Page:Home; or, The unlost paradise (IA homeorunlostpara00palm).pdf/57

  But not alone thou bear'st it. There is yet
Another holy name. Thou, Edward, art
A Father!—name like God's! a changeless name.
Thy manly soul, warmed with paternal love,
Calm, deep, and steady as a river's tide,
By this new life shall feel its own enlarged,
More joyous made and richer. Thou shalt find
In this, thy son, what seems another self;
Another centre, round which may revolve
Thy best affections and thy busy thought.
E'en while his infant prattle wakes the smile
Of fatherly delight, within thy breast
Grave questionings shall rise, with hopes and fears.
"How with thee shall it fare, unconscious child—
How wilt thou bear thyself, upon life's field
Where foe meets foe and wile encounters wile;
Where hapless thousands fall, or, wounded sore,
Survive but wrecks, unfit for noble tasks?
What destinies are thine? Wait there for thee
The shouts of triumph? or the pang and shame
Of final, sad defeat?" So wilt thou ask;