On the Death of a Child

And he is gone! that winning child
Whose eyes with varied meanings shone:
By turns the gay, the grave, the wild;
A child 't was sweet to look upon!

Joy of a widow'd mother's breast;
But yet at times her anxious care!
Now with the tenderest love carest,
Now needing duty's frown severe.

For sure her heart some conflicts felt
When, as she view'd the future years,
She for her boy in prayer has knelt;
Now flush'd with hope—now pale with fears.

But He, that God who 'heareth prayer,'
To her's a favouring answer gave;
And sav'd her child from every snare,
By—precious gift!— an early grave.

For mercy bids, when those we love
In childhood's morn of cloudless ray,
At once from life's dread snares remove,
And pass like early dews away!

So, mourner! has thy darling pass'd,
And safely reach'd the destin'd bourne!
Then, though thy path clouds still o'ercast,
Let faith exult, though fondness mourn.