 | Hagar |  |
THE CHILD'S GARDEN.
'Tis only a little spot of ground,
The garden walk beside,
And yet it seems a sacred mound
To all, since he has died.
The garden walk beside,
And yet it seems a sacred mound
To all, since he has died.
His life with pain was saddened o'er;
Poor child! he never drew
A glad, free breath—but more and more
In wisdom's ways he grew.
Poor child! he never drew
A glad, free breath—but more and more
In wisdom's ways he grew.
260
Here, in the early days of spring,
The little sufferer came,
And saw with joy each living thing,
And called it by its name.
The little sufferer came,
And saw with joy each living thing,
And called it by its name.
The flowers to him seemed more than flowers,
Playmates and friends in one,
And here he passed his weary hours,
From morn till set of sun.
Playmates and friends in one,
And here he passed his weary hours,
From morn till set of sun.
He saw each plant its buds unfold,
And seek the light above,
Their beauty thrilled with joy his soul,
And filled his heart with love.
And seek the light above,
Their beauty thrilled with joy his soul,
And filled his heart with love.
O who can tell what visions rare,
Came to the dreaming child,
When earth and sky were both so fair,
And all creation smiled?
Came to the dreaming child,
When earth and sky were both so fair,
And all creation smiled?
Methinks God gives for such as he,
His angels charge, that they
May watch and guard them lovingly,
And with them always stay.
His angels charge, that they
May watch and guard them lovingly,
And with them always stay.
And thus it is their souls expand,
With heavenly guests so near,
And things we may not understand,
To them seem plain and clear.
With heavenly guests so near,
And things we may not understand,
To them seem plain and clear.
Kind Nature holds them to her breast,
While opening wide her store,
She soothes their pain and gives them rest,
That they may love her more.
While opening wide her store,
She soothes their pain and gives them rest,
That they may love her more.
261
And when death comes, he wears a smile,
The truest friend is he,
He takes them but a little while,
And bears them tenderly—
The truest friend is he,
He takes them but a little while,
And bears them tenderly—
To where the angels waiting stand,
With gentle, loving eyes,
To lead them to another land,
'Neath softest summer skies.
With gentle, loving eyes,
To lead them to another land,
'Neath softest summer skies.
Then all that they have loved on earth,
Will they not find them there?
No pain is in that second birth,
And all things must be fair.
Will they not find them there?
No pain is in that second birth,
And all things must be fair.
And so I dream these garden flowers,
To the lost child so dear,
Still bloom for him these summer hours,
In a purer atmosphere.
To the lost child so dear,
Still bloom for him these summer hours,
In a purer atmosphere.
| Hagar | |