Poems (Osgood)/Purity's Pearl; or the History of a Tear

by Frances Sargent Osgood

PURITY'S PEARL;

or, the history of a tear.

A maiden, one summer's day, over Life's sea,
 In a pleasure-boat swiftly sailing,
Gazed back on the bowers of her childhood free,
 That were dim in the distance failing.
She had clasp'd her zone with a brilliant stone,
 In tint like the plume of a Lory,
Through its heart the blush of the dawn had shone,
 And left it in all its glory.
"False, false the talisman!" cries the girl,
 "From my bosom the gem I sever!
Oh! give me back purity's snow-white pearl,
 And away with Love's Ruby for ever!"
A tear, as she spoke, dimm'd her eye's blue fire,
 And fell in the foaming water,
And hark! at the moment, an angel-lyre
 Sounds the name of earth's sorrowing daughter:—
'Tis the spirit of mercy floats from Heaven,
 Like light thro' the waves descending,
And the penitent feels her fault forgiven,
 While smiles with her tears are blending.
And long ere that frail bark reach'd the shore,
 Fair Mercy, her pledge redeeming,
Stole up thro' the moonlit sea once more,
 With a pearl in her soft hand beaming.
"I bring thee back Purity's gem of Snow!
 'Tis thy tear of remorse and devotion,
Transform'd to a pearl, in the wondrous flow
 Of Time's mysterious ocean."
And the maiden has bound her zone again,
 With the treasure she prized so truly,
And safe is her bark on the fathomless main,
 For her talisman keeps it holy!