The Emigrant Mechanic and Other Tales in Verse Part 26

Sleep on, my babe, I'll not disturb, Thy silent rest I love to view; For now thou needest not the curb I use in trying to subdue

Thy peevish temper, which, I ween Needs constant care from me, thy site, While through thy childish ways are seen Thy pa.s.sions strong in wildest fire.

Sleep on, my child, some future day May see thee walking in G.o.d's ways.

For this great blessing will I pray Still guided by the Truth's clear rays.

Sleep on, my little girl, till morn, And when awake pursue thy play; Yet, when grown up, may'st thou adorn The sphere in which thou mov'st by day.

Sleep on, my daughter, sleep in peace.

Thou has been toiling through the day.

Thy little tongue doth seldom cease From talking much in thy own way.

Sleep on, sweet prattler, and may bright Angelic Spirits guard thee round, Till Sol with his resplendent light Doth break thy slumbers quite profound.

Yes, sleep, my child, through every night, As fast revolving years proceed.

By day enjoy the heavenly light, Of which we in the Bible read.

But oh, sleep not when duties bid My girl awake to run the race Which Christians run, when thorns amid May make her see her need of Grace.

And oh, sleep not in ways of sin, For dangers lurk with serpent wiles; And false security within, Each unsuspecting mind beguiles.

And when the solemn time arrives For thee to sleep in death at peace, And thy pure spirit strongly strives To gain her longed-for wished release,

O, may she mount to yon abode Where G.o.d's blest Saints and Angels dwell; And there rejoice in him who trode The path to death to save from h.e.l.l.

TO ELLEN AND WILLIE.

Ellen, my prattler dear, Willie, my darling boy, My children need not fear, They shall my gift employ.

To you, by great neglect, I have no rhyme addressed.

This you would scarce expect, So much you've been caressed.

For it I now will try To make amends quite ample, And trust the time is nigh When you can read this sample.

Ellen, I think I see That thou resemblest mother; Thou'rt not so much like me As Willie, thy young brother.

One thing I wish you both, That you in your behaviour Like her, may not be loath To follow Christ, the Saviour.

For never have I seen One of a lovelier spirit; No mortals do, I ween, Such loveliness inherit.

She was of temper mild, Was often smiling sweetly, In malice was a child, As a Christian walked discreetly.

To have this said of you Would give your father pleasure.

It would be worth, if true, To me a world of treasure.

So Ellen, prattler dear, Willie, my darling boy, While father's stay is here, O, fill his heart with joy.

As soon as you can read, Peruse the Bible's page, And to your ways take heed As you advance in age.

Then to the Savior fly, Who, only, you can save From woes that never die, In death beyond the grave.

That we may meet at last In Heaven, that happy place, When every storm is past, To view our Jesus' face.

TO MR. AND MRS. C. BATTY.

1847.

Parents-in-law, a Rhymer much in debt Deems it full time to try his debts to pay; And as some large arrears are standing yet, To give this mite I will no more delay.

And if I cannot make a full discharge, Perhaps I may induce you to forbear, For though this portion is not very large, 'Tis quite as much as I can freely spare.

Preliminaries settled, I proceed To seek the a.s.sistance of my humble Muse; Well knowing that she will in time of need Give forth such numbers as you'll not refuse.

Impelled by grat.i.tute for kindness shown, I bless my G.o.d I now so long have known That sweet connection in which I have stood With you and yours. Thoughts of it make the blood Run freely through my veins; they cheer my mind, Revive my spirits, make me leave behind Vile carking cares, dispel my melancholy, Fire my devotion with desires most holy,

Fill my sad soul! Thus am I drawn away, And in imagination soar to-day To those blest regions where my Ann has gone, And feel that even now I'm not alone.

For her pure spirit is with mine Holding fellowship divine.

Hark! she whispers in the skies, "Let thy prayers to Heaven arise; Let thy songs ascend above; Sing evermore Redeeming Love; For all those who here do enter Cleave to Jesus as their Centre, And we now on holy ground Join in one unceasing round Of purest pleasure, and do raise Our voices in the Saviour's praise And thus throughout Eternity Dwell in sweetest harmony.

To all my kindred I would say.

Work while 'tis called 'to-day.'

Always listen to the voice Of Jesus, and in him rejoice.

Make his righteousness your boast, For without it you are lost.

Listen now, he calls to-day; Flee, Oh, flee to him away!"

She ceased to speak, and back her spirit fled To yon bright Mansions where her Saviour led; And we are left confined in tents of clay, To "groan, being burdened," for Redemption's day.

Oh, then, dear parents, let us not forget The "still small voice" of Mercy's speaking yet.

Let us put on afresh our heavenly armor, The Christian warfare is but growing warmer.

Should our weak courage fail, let us in meekness Look still to him who gives us strength in weakness.

And thus supported, may our lives declare How blest the portion which through grace we share.

TO MY INFANT ANNIE.

1847.

Motherless babe, I can't forbear to make Some rhyme to thee for thy dear mother's sake.

Thy pleasant looks, thy smiles, thy temper mild Do much surprise me in so young a child.

In thy sweet face I view in embryo My lost wife's charms; it is, it must be so.

Quiet thy ways, and smiling oft through tears, An earnest surely this for future years, That the same lovely conduct may be shown Which marked thy mother's life, as is well known.

Then as thou dost advance to womanhood, May G.o.d's own Word by thee be understood.

Can I look forward to the time When thou shalt reach a woman's prime?

When youth and beauty, linked with grace May beam forth from thy smiling face?

Alas, the future, hid from sight Of all but Him who dwells in light, May see us numbered with the dead.

And knowing this may I be led To train my children in the way That leads to Heaven's eternal day.

STANZAS.