The shepherd on Tornaro's misty brow, And the swart seaman, sailing far below, Not undelighted watch the morning ray Purpling the orient-till it breaks away, And burns and blazes into glorious day!
But happier still is he who bends to trace That sun, the soul, just dawning in the face; The burst, the glow, the animating strife,
The thoughts and passions stirring into life; The forming utterance, the inquiring glance, The giant waking from his ten-fold trance, Till up he starts as conscious whence he came, And all is light within the trembling frame !
What then a Father's feelings? Joy and Fear In turn prevail, Joy most; and through the year Tempering the ardent, urging night and day Him who shrinks back or wanders from the way, Praising each highly-from a wish to raise Their merits to the level of his Praise, Onward in their observing sight he moves, Fearful of wrong, in awe of whom he loves! Their sacred presence who shall dare profane ? Who, when He slumbers, hope to fix a stain? He lives a model in his life to show,
That, when he dies and through the world they go, Some men may pause and say, when some admire,
They are his sons, and worthy of their sire!"
But Man is born to suffer. On the door Sickness has set her mark; and now no more Laughter within we hear, or wood-notes wild As of a mother singing to her child.
All now in anguish from that room retire, Where a young cheek glows with consuming fire, And Innocence breathes contagion-all but one, But she who gave it birth-from her alone
The medicine-cup is taken. Through the night, And through the day, that with its dreary light Comes unregarded, she sits silent by,
Watching the changes with her anxious eye: While they without, listening below, above, (Who but in sorrow know how much they love?) From every little noise catch hope and fear, Exchanging still, still as they turn to hear, Whispers and sighs, and smiles all tenderness That would in vain the starting tear repress.
Such grief was ours-it seems but yesterday— When in thy prime, wishing so much to stay, 'Twas thine, Maria, thine without a sigh At midnight in a Sister's arms to die! Oh thou wert lovely-lovely was thy frame, And pure thy spirit as from Heaven it came ! And, when recalled to join the blest above, Thou diedst a victim to exceeding love, Nursing the young to health. In happier hours, When idle Fancy wove luxuriant flowers, Once in thy mirth thou bad'st me write on thee; And now I write-what thou shalt never see!
At length the Father, vain his power to save, Follows his child in silence to the grave, (That child how cherished, whom he would not give, Sleeping the sleep of death, for All that live ;) Takes a last look, when, not unheard, the spade Scatters the earth as 66 dust to dust" is said,
Takes a last look and goes; his best relief Consoling others in that hour of grief,
And with sweet tears and gentle words infusing The holy calm that leads to heavenly musing.
But hark, the din of arms! no time for sorrow. To horse, to horse! A day of blood to-morrow! One parting pang, and then-and then I fly, Fly to the field, to triumph-or to die !-
He goes, and Night comes as it never came! With shrieks of horror!-and a vault of flame! And lo! when morning mocks the desolate, Red runs the river by; and at the gate Breathless a horse without his rider stands! But hush! .. a shout from the victorious bands! And oh the smiles and tears, a sire restored! One wears his helm, one buckles on his sword; One hangs the wall with laurel-leaves, and all Spring to prepare the soldier's festival;
While She best-loved, till then forsaken never Clings round his neck as she would cling for ever! Such golden deeds lead on to golden days, Days of domestic peace-by him who plays On the great stage how uneventful thought; Yet with a thousand busy projects fraught, A thousand incidents that stir the mind To pleasure, such as leaves no sting behind! Such as the heart delights in-and records Within how silently-in more than words! A Holiday-the frugal banquet spread On the fresh herbage near the fountain-head With quips and cranks-what time the wood-lark there Scatters his loose notes on the sultry air,
What time the king-fisher sits perched below, Where, silver-bright, the water-lilies blow :- A Wake-the booths whitening the village green, Where Punch and Scaramouch aloft are seen; Sign beyond sign in close array unfurled, Picturing at large the wonders of the world;
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