 | The Triangular Society |  |
328
LIZZIE.
Dear little dark-eyed namesake!
The summers are all too few
Since she brightened with graceful wearing
The name that my childhood knew.
I hoped it would crown her with sunshine
Fairer than ever smiled;
I said it should bring her a blessing—
Dear little dark-eyed child!
The summers are all too few
Since she brightened with graceful wearing
The name that my childhood knew.
I hoped it would crown her with sunshine
Fairer than ever smiled;
I said it should bring her a blessing—
Dear little dark-eyed child!
I said it should bring her a blessing—
Was I wiser than I guessed?
Was the blessing a long sweet childhood,
And an early and happy rest?
For the loving circle that held her
Is robbed of its precious pearl;
The youngest, the fairest, the darling;—
Dear little dark-eyed girl!
Was I wiser than I guessed?
Was the blessing a long sweet childhood,
And an early and happy rest?
For the loving circle that held her
Is robbed of its precious pearl;
The youngest, the fairest, the darling;—
Dear little dark-eyed girl!
329
She stood where the path of childhood—
A lane through a flowery wood—
Led out to the wide, dim distance
Of perilous womanhood;—
Woman or angel?—The future
Like a question before her lay;
What wonder she paused and faltered,
And chose the easier way?
A lane through a flowery wood—
Led out to the wide, dim distance
Of perilous womanhood;—
Woman or angel?—The future
Like a question before her lay;
What wonder she paused and faltered,
And chose the easier way?
Not for her are the crosses
And bonds of a woman's life,
Nor the burdens and costly blessings
Which cling to the name of wife;
Nor labor, nor doubt, nor anguish,
Nor the great world's dusty whirl;
Not one of them touched her garment—
Dear little dark-eyed girl!
And bonds of a woman's life,
Nor the burdens and costly blessings
Which cling to the name of wife;
Nor labor, nor doubt, nor anguish,
Nor the great world's dusty whirl;
Not one of them touched her garment—
Dear little dark-eyed girl!
Timidly leaning always
On the hearts which loved her best,
Sheltered from every sorrow,
She dwelt in the warm home nest;
Never a grief came near her,
Nor trial nor loss she bore,
And none in the home that holds her,
Shall find her forevermore!
On the hearts which loved her best,
Sheltered from every sorrow,
She dwelt in the warm home nest;
Never a grief came near her,
Nor trial nor loss she bore,
And none in the home that holds her,
Shall find her forevermore!
O fair and fetterless spirit!
The name that my childhood knew,
Though rarely I hear it spoken,
Is sweeter because of you!
What matter how little value
On earth to the name be given,
Since now it is worn by an angel,
'T is tenderly breathed in heaven?
The name that my childhood knew,
Though rarely I hear it spoken,
Is sweeter because of you!
What matter how little value
On earth to the name be given,
Since now it is worn by an angel,
'T is tenderly breathed in heaven?
| The Triangular Society | |