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144
TO A CHILD.
Dost thou wonder at my weeping
Beneath such sunny skies,
While sympathy is creeping
To thy bright and joyous eyes?
Beneath such sunny skies,
While sympathy is creeping
To thy bright and joyous eyes?
Thou art young, my child, nor knowest
The bitterness of woe;
But e'er from earth thou goest,
Thy tears shall amply flow.
The bitterness of woe;
But e'er from earth thou goest,
Thy tears shall amply flow.
Those bright and wistful glances
Are raised to me in vain;
If but my grief enhances,
That for me thou feelest pain!
Are raised to me in vain;
If but my grief enhances,
That for me thou feelest pain!
Thou art glad when birds are singing
Their songs of joy and love;
Thou art glad when church bells, ringing,
Bid thee worship Him above;
Their songs of joy and love;
Thou art glad when church bells, ringing,
Bid thee worship Him above;
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Thou art joyous when thou feelest
The first fresh breath of day,
And at evening when thou kneelest
By thy mother's side to pray.
The first fresh breath of day,
And at evening when thou kneelest
By thy mother's side to pray.
When on tiptoe-step, behind thee
Thy young companions creep,
Thou laughest as they bind thee
And start'st from mimic sleep.
Thy young companions creep,
Thou laughest as they bind thee
And start'st from mimic sleep.
And in thy lonelier hours,
When thy youthful mates are gone,
Thou art happy 'midst the flowers,
Smiling with them at the sun!
When thy youthful mates are gone,
Thou art happy 'midst the flowers,
Smiling with them at the sun!
But sad to me the singing
Of the birds whose notes you praise:
And to me the church bells, ringing,
Sound the knell of happier days.
Of the birds whose notes you praise:
And to me the church bells, ringing,
Sound the knell of happier days.
The friends I had have perished,
Or coldly turn away!
The lingering hope I cherished
Is now a darkened ray!
Or coldly turn away!
The lingering hope I cherished
Is now a darkened ray!
What I most love is sleeping
All silently and cold,
And the dews and I are weeping
Upon the unconscious mould.
All silently and cold,
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Upon the unconscious mould.
And thou, my child, who'rt coming,
With thy sunny smiling eye,
To watch me, mournful roaming,
And weep thou know'st not why!
With thy sunny smiling eye,
To watch me, mournful roaming,
And weep thou know'st not why!
Thy gentle love, thy duty,
The promise of thy years,
Thine innocence, thy beauty,
Are all a cause for tears.
The promise of thy years,
Thine innocence, thy beauty,
Are all a cause for tears.
For Time will dim the beaming
Of that smile so soft and bright;
And the tear of sorrow, streaming,
Will quench thine eyes' sweet light!
Of that smile so soft and bright;
And the tear of sorrow, streaming,
Will quench thine eyes' sweet light!
Oh! when hopes are all departed
That smiled around thy way,
And, lone and broken hearted,
Thou sighest for to-day;
That smiled around thy way,
And, lone and broken hearted,
Thou sighest for to-day;
Should some kindly hand be near thee,
And seek thy woes to heal,
Then the vain attempt to cheer thee
Shall teach thee what I feel!
And seek thy woes to heal,
Then the vain attempt to cheer thee
Shall teach thee what I feel!
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