 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
OUR DARLING LITTLE ONE;
OR, THE ROSEBUD AND THE NESTLING.
A smiling rosebud, bright with dew,
Its crimson petals peeping through
Green fringe, to captivate our view:
Its crimson petals peeping through
Green fringe, to captivate our view:
Will it in fulness of its bloom,
The pleasant garden-ground illume,
And load the air with rich perfume?
The pleasant garden-ground illume,
And load the air with rich perfume?
Or will its beauty quick depart,
Pining away with secret smart,
A hidden canker at the heart?
Pining away with secret smart,
A hidden canker at the heart?
85
Will its fair robes and jewelled crown
Enjoy a Summer day's renown,
Or unregarded flutter down?
Enjoy a Summer day's renown,
Or unregarded flutter down?
Will storms or sunshine on it wait?
Will it be early plucked, or late?
Ah, who can tell that rosebud's fate?
Will it be early plucked, or late?
Ah, who can tell that rosebud's fate?
It questions not, but only smiles,
And with its fascinating wiles
The present happy hour beguiles.
And with its fascinating wiles
The present happy hour beguiles.
Ah, Lord, our Rosebud shield from harm
With shadow of Thine unseen arm,
Circling around him like a charm.
With shadow of Thine unseen arm,
Circling around him like a charm.
The Spirit's light be on his head,
The Spirit's breath around him shed,
His heart by Thy sweet dew be fed.
The Spirit's breath around him shed,
His heart by Thy sweet dew be fed.
86
Bid him in peace unfold his flower,
His beauty ripening hour by hour,
The joy and glory of our bower.
His beauty ripening hour by hour,
The joy and glory of our bower.
Oh, leave him, Lord, to cheer our eyes,
And breathe a life's pure sacrifice—
Then—let him bloom in Paradise!
And breathe a life's pure sacrifice—
Then—let him bloom in Paradise!
A nestling perched upon its nest,
The tender down of its fair breast
Against the mossy cushion prest:
The tender down of its fair breast
Against the mossy cushion prest:
Will it upborne on pinions strong
Flit to and fro the Summer long,
And fill the woodland with its song?
Flit to and fro the Summer long,
And fill the woodland with its song?
Or will it quickly be laid low,
Struck down by instantaneous blow
Of prowling foot or wingèd foe?
Struck down by instantaneous blow
Of prowling foot or wingèd foe?
87
Will listening leaves, around it stirred,
Applauses wave, whene'er 'tis heard,
Or will it droop, a voiceless bird?
Applauses wave, whene'er 'tis heard,
Or will it droop, a voiceless bird?
Will it be blown o'er rock and foam,
Or in our sheltered copses roam,
The favourite of some English home?
Or in our sheltered copses roam,
The favourite of some English home?
It questions not the when or how
Of its short life, but happy now
Essays a flight to the next bough.
Of its short life, but happy now
Essays a flight to the next bough.
Ah, Lord, our Nestling shield from harm;
Ward off with Thine encircling arm
The lightest footstep of alarm!
Ward off with Thine encircling arm
The lightest footstep of alarm!
Oh, let Thy Dove with holy wing
Watch over him, o'ershadowing,
And teach him there to sit and sing.
Watch over him, o'ershadowing,
And teach him there to sit and sing.
88
Bid him in peace spread out his plume,
And with his grace our hearts illume,
And with his voice dispel our gloom.
And with his grace our hearts illume,
And with his voice dispel our gloom.
Oh, leave him, Lord, on earth to cheer
Our soul with song, and please Thine ear;
Then—let him sing through Heaven's long year!
Our soul with song, and please Thine ear;
Then—let him sing through Heaven's long year!
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