No taint of earth, no thought of sin,
E'er dwelt thy stainless breast within;
And God hath laid thee down to sleep,
Like a pure pearl below the deep.
Yea! from mine arms thy soul hath flown
Above, and found the heavenly throne,
To join that blest angelic ring,
That aye around the altar sing.
Methought, when years had rolled away,
That thou wouldst be mine age's stay,
And often have I dreamt to see
The boy—the youth—the man in thee!
But thou hast past! for ever gone,
To leave me childless and alone,
Like Rachel pouring tear on tear,
And looking not for comfort here!
Farewell, my child, the dews shall fall
At morn and evening o'er thy pall;
And daisies, when the vernal year
Revives, upon thy turf appear.
The earliest snowdrop there shall spring,
And lark delight to fold his wing,
And roses pale, and lilies fair,
With perfume load the summer air!
Adieu, my babe! if life were long,
This would be even a heavier song,
But years like phantoms quickly pass,
Then look to us from memory's glass.
Soon on death's couch shall I recline;
Soon shall my head be laid with thine:
And sundered spirits meet above,
To live for evermore in love.
Death and Burial of a Child at Sea.
My boy refused his food, forgot to play,
And sickened on the waters, day by day;
He smiled more seldom on his mother's smile;
He prattled less in accents void of guile,
