Scenes and Hymns of Life, with Other Religious Poems/The Children whom Jesus blest

by Felicia Hemans

VI.

THE CHILDREN WHOM JESUS BLEST.

Happy were they, the mothers, in whose sight
    Ye grew, fair children! hallowed from that hour
    By your Lord's blessing! surely thence a shower
Of heavenly beauty, a transmitted light
Hung on your brows and eyelids, meekly bright,
    Through all the after years, which saw ye move
Lowly, yet still majestic, in the might,
    The conscious glory of the Saviour's love!
And honoured be all childhood, for the sake
    Of that high love! Let reverential care
Watch to behold the immortal spirit wake,
    And shield its first bloom from unholy air;
Owning, in each young suppliant glance, the sign
Of claims upon a heritage divine.