Page:Poems Welby.djvu/141

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LINES WRITTEN WHILE GAZING ON A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL GATHERING FLOWERS.
I love to gaze on thy face, fair child,
For thou seemest too bright for earth;
There's a music-tone in thy laughter wild,
As it breaks from thy heart of mirth.

Affection speaks in thy soft blue eye.
As its restless glances rove,
Thy voice of glee comes ringing by—
Alas! for thy heart of love.

Ah! many a bright and airy dream
Hath over thy spirit past,
Like sunshine o'er a laughing stream,
Too beautiful to last.

I sigh to think of the transient joy,
That illumines thy gladsome youth,
Of the guile and deceit, that will soon destroy
Thy feelings of warmth and truth.

Thou 'rt plucking away from their slender stems,
The rose and the lily fair,