Children like Parents. "And mark, too keen for earthly day, The Father's stamp and seal, Christ in the heart, the Living Ray, Its deepening light reveal ?" Oh, well the denizens of Heaven By gaze of meek inquiry, turn'd By tears that to obey have learn'd, Well may we guess, our Guardians true Stoop low and tarry long, Each accent noting, each faint hue, That shows us weak or strong. And even as loving nurses here The likeness true of kinsman dear Or brother good and kind, 25 So in each budding inward grace The Seraphs' searching ken The memory haply may retrace For of her Saints the Sacred Home Each a bright shadow in the gloom, And by those features, stern or sweet, Heaven's keen-eyed Watchers haply mete What mortals holy deem. "And hark," saith one, "the soul I guide— I heard it gently sigh In such a tone as Peter sighed, Touched by his Saviour's eye." "And see," another cries, "how soft Smiles on that little child Yon aged man! even so full oft The loved Disciple smiled." 27 27 Children like Parents. And oh, be sure no guardian fires Than theirs, who scan the meek desires Of maiden in her quiet bower, But as when babes by look or tone In all the Parents' right we own, So in earth's saintly multitude In these, the Fountain Orb of Good, 3. THE LULLABY. "Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept." THE western sky is glowing yet, The burnished Cross upon the spire A maiden rocks a babe to sleep, She to that strain hath lent her aid :- Defend me, Lord, for thou art just.”* * Psalm lxxi. 1. New Version. The Lullaby. Without a Psalm she breathes her strain, Angels may read such words of power, We see the Lord's unclouded smile. O awful touch of God made Man ! By Thee our wearier age we bear. 29 |