 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
236
OVER MY SLUMBERING INFANT.
Over my slumbering infant,
A new-born “infant of days,”
In his dainty, nest-like cradle,
I hung with wondering gaze;
His tiny, delicate fingers,
His face so gentle and small,
And soft to the touch as velvet—
I silently pondered on all.
A new-born “infant of days,”
In his dainty, nest-like cradle,
I hung with wondering gaze;
His tiny, delicate fingers,
His face so gentle and small,
And soft to the touch as velvet—
I silently pondered on all.
I saw in that slumbering infant
The dawn's first, glimmering ray,
And I thought of the glorious Future,
The long, everlasting day,
The vast, far-stretching duration,
The hidden powers of good,
That there lay quietly sleeping,
Like a folded flower i' the bud.
The dawn's first, glimmering ray,
And I thought of the glorious Future,
The long, everlasting day,
The vast, far-stretching duration,
The hidden powers of good,
That there lay quietly sleeping,
Like a folded flower i' the bud.
237
As a little, shining acorn
From its cup emboss'd and round
By a breath of wind is loosened,
And buries itself in the ground;
And behold! long centuries after
From that acorn small we see
Towering with growth umbrageous,
A mighty, monarch-tree.
From its cup emboss'd and round
By a breath of wind is loosened,
And buries itself in the ground;
And behold! long centuries after
From that acorn small we see
Towering with growth umbrageous,
A mighty, monarch-tree.
As a mossy fountain bubbling
From its basin fringed with fern,
Glides along through leafy dingle,
Tinkling fall, and eddying turn;
But swells from a brook to a river,
And rolls majestic down,
Making glad the corn-covered valley,
Lone village and populous town.
From its basin fringed with fern,
Glides along through leafy dingle,
Tinkling fall, and eddying turn;
But swells from a brook to a river,
And rolls majestic down,
Making glad the corn-covered valley,
Lone village and populous town.
So before that cradled infant
A mighty destiny lies,
Beginning mid earthly shadows,
Expanding beyond the skies:
A life of wide-branching influence
From that tiny form may grow,
And rivers of living water
Through time and eternity flow.
A mighty destiny lies,
238
Expanding beyond the skies:
A life of wide-branching influence
From that tiny form may grow,
And rivers of living water
Through time and eternity flow.
Oh! may the dew of God's blessing
On that tender plant be shed,
May the sunshine of His favour
Rest on that infant's head.
God turn his heart as the rivers
Even whithersoever He will,
That his life may reflect God's glory,
And His purpose of love fulfil!
On that tender plant be shed,
May the sunshine of His favour
Rest on that infant's head.
God turn his heart as the rivers
Even whithersoever He will,
That his life may reflect God's glory,
And His purpose of love fulfil!
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