Poems (Nealds)/Lines written during the severe illness of my youngest Girl

by Adeline Martha Nealds

LINES WRITTEN DURING THE SEVERE ILLNESS OF MY YOUNGEST GIRL.

Oh! pale art thou, my once blooming flow'r,
 And faint and weak thy little form appears,
Which late bloom'd freshest in thy mother's bow'r;
 Alas! alas! I view the change with tears.

No more thou runn'st with frolic glee to meet me;
 No more I hear thee carol thy gay song;
Thy soft blue eyes scarce now unclose to greet me,
 Gone the gay smiles which did to thee belong.

With wasting sickness thy young form must languish,
 All my fond care appears, alas, in vain;
None but a mother e'er can guess my anguish
 To see thee suffer, and not ease thy pain.
Oh lovely health! return, with aspect mild,
And bless again my gentle suff'ring child.