THE CHILD'S OFFERING.
For a moment his tiny hand was lost
'Mid rushes that fringed the stream;
Then it came forth, and white lilies were toss'd
After the golden perch, that cross'd
In the flash of the noontide beam.
'Mid rushes that fringed the stream;
Then it came forth, and white lilies were toss'd
After the golden perch, that cross'd
In the flash of the noontide beam.
He loiter'd along in the dusky shade,
Where spicy cones were spread!
He gather'd them up, till a lamb at play
Came close beside, then down he lay,
Hugging its innocent head.
Where spicy cones were spread!
He gather'd them up, till a lamb at play
Came close beside, then down he lay,
Hugging its innocent head.
A pair of glittering wings went by,
And the Child flew after the moth;
Till a fluttering nestling caught his eye,
And he chased the bird; but he gave no sigh
When he saw he had lost them both.
And the Child flew after the moth;
Till a fluttering nestling caught his eye,
And he chased the bird; but he gave no sigh
When he saw he had lost them both.
He found himself in a dazzling place,
Where Flora had been crown'd;
Where perfume, colour, light, and grace,
Pure as the flush on his own young face,
Were flung over bower and mound.
Where Flora had been crown'd;
Where perfume, colour, light, and grace,
Pure as the flush on his own young face,
Were flung over bower and mound.
He stood like an elf in fairy lands,
With a wide and wistful stare;
As a maiden over her casket stands,
'Mid heaps of jewels beneath her hands,
Uncertain which to wear.
With a wide and wistful stare;
As a maiden over her casket stands,
'Mid heaps of jewels beneath her hands,
Uncertain which to wear.
He went through the burnish'd, rainbow maze,
For some trophy to carry away;
To the tulip-bed, and acacia-sprays,
To the luscious breath and the scarlet blaze,
Not knowing where to stay.
For some trophy to carry away;
To the tulip-bed, and acacia-sprays,
To the luscious breath and the scarlet blaze,
Not knowing where to stay.
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