[Poems by Clark in] The religious souvenir a Christmas, New Year's, and Birth Day Present, for MDCCCXXXVI |
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CHILDHOOD. |
 | [Poems by Clark in] The religious souvenir |  |
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CHILDHOOD.
Fair child! rejoicing in the morn of being,
Whose vernal landscapes brighten to the view;
Scenes of untold delight and beauty seeing,
Which wake impressions rapturous and new—
Thine eyes are smiling, like the smiling skies,
And peaceful visions in thy spirit rise.
Whose vernal landscapes brighten to the view;
Scenes of untold delight and beauty seeing,
Which wake impressions rapturous and new—
Thine eyes are smiling, like the smiling skies,
And peaceful visions in thy spirit rise.
Thou know'st not yet the cares that dim existence,—
That pain the bosom with their bitter stings;
A radiant glory gilds the onward distance,
And joyous Hope makes music with her wings:
And bright on cheek and lip thy thoughts repose,
Like sunshine beaming on the early rose.
That pain the bosom with their bitter stings;
A radiant glory gilds the onward distance,
And joyous Hope makes music with her wings:
And bright on cheek and lip thy thoughts repose,
Like sunshine beaming on the early rose.
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Content is thine, and childhood—blessed things!
Dreams that are gladness to the new-born soul,
And innocence itself—a stream that springs
From chrystal fountains that unsullied roll;
Whose source is holy, and whose sway divine—
Untainted dreams and pleasures—such are thine!
Dreams that are gladness to the new-born soul,
And innocence itself—a stream that springs
From chrystal fountains that unsullied roll;
Whose source is holy, and whose sway divine—
Untainted dreams and pleasures—such are thine!
Alas! as darksome years shall pass above thee,
These gorgeous pictures of the mind will fade;
Uncounted changes will with sorrow move thee,
'Till thou from earthly ills shalt shrink afraid:
'Till, from the anguish of Affliction's rod,
Thy suffering heart is taught to trust in God.
These gorgeous pictures of the mind will fade;
Uncounted changes will with sorrow move thee,
'Till thou from earthly ills shalt shrink afraid:
'Till, from the anguish of Affliction's rod,
Thy suffering heart is taught to trust in God.
Then, let the tempest come! Though thou inherit
That fatal legacy which mortals own;—
The gradual cloud that o'erspreads the spirit—
The gay hopes wasted, and the pleasures gone—
For thee, within a cup no ill can dim,
The draught of Life shall sparkle to the brim!
That fatal legacy which mortals own;—
The gradual cloud that o'erspreads the spirit—
The gay hopes wasted, and the pleasures gone—
For thee, within a cup no ill can dim,
The draught of Life shall sparkle to the brim!
For when thou learnest, from that wholesome teaching
Which this dull earth to mortals must bestow,
That the high soul in vain for bliss is reaching,
Tow'rds aught that shines celestial worlds below—
Then shall thine aspirations soar above,
Where all is beauty, and repose, and love.
Which this dull earth to mortals must bestow,
That the high soul in vain for bliss is reaching,
Tow'rds aught that shines celestial worlds below—
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Where all is beauty, and repose, and love.
Then shall the ransomed soul, its prize receiving,
Rejoice in glory,when the earth shall fade;
And for those blessed realms, corruption leaving,
Survey a prospect that no cloud may shade.
Oh, blessed Child! such destiny is thine,
If thou but worship at thy Saviour's shrine!
Rejoice in glory,when the earth shall fade;
And for those blessed realms, corruption leaving,
Survey a prospect that no cloud may shade.
Oh, blessed Child! such destiny is thine,
If thou but worship at thy Saviour's shrine!
Philadelphia.
| [Poems by Clark in] The religious souvenir | |