The Kings And Queens Of England With Other Poems Part 9

LIFE'S CHANGES.

A fair young girl was to the altar led By him she loved, the chosen of her heart; And words of solemn import there were said, And mutual vows were pledged till death should part.

But life was young, and death a great way off, At least it seemed so then, on that bright morn; And they no doubt, expected years of bliss, And in their path the rose without a thorn.

Cherished from infancy with tenderest care, A precious only daughter was the bride; And when that young protector's arm she took, She for the first time left her parents' side.

With all a woman's tender, trustful heart, She gave herself away to him she loved; Why should she not, was he not all her own, A choice by friends and parents too approved?

How rapidly with him the days now fly, With _him_ the partner of her future life; Happy and joyous as a child she'd been, Happy as daughter, _happier still as wife_.

But ere eight months in quick succession pa.s.sed, One to each human heart a dreaded foe, Entered her house, and by a single stroke, Blasted her hopes, and laid her idol low.

Three months of bitter anguish was endured, But hope again revived, and she was blest, When pressing to her heart a darling child, Whose little head she pillowed on her breast.

Not long is she permitted to enjoy, This sweetest bud of promise to her given; Short as an angel's visit was its stay, When G.o.d, who gave it, took it up to heaven.

Ah, what a contrast one short year presents!

Replete with happiness--replete with woe; In that brief s.p.a.ce, a maiden called, and wife, Widow and mother written--childless too.

Surely my friend, I need not say to thee, Look not to earth for what it can't bestow; 'Tis at the best a frail and brittle reed, Which trusting for support, will pierce thee through.

Then let us look above this fleeting earth, To heaven and heavenly joys direct our eyes; No lasting happiness this world affords-- "He builds too low who builds below the skies."

Weston, Dec. 1, 1852.

LINES.

"They will not frame their doings to turn unto their G.o.d.

Hosea, 5:4."

I would frame all my doings to please thee, my G.o.d!

'Tis from thee all my mercies proceed; I would frame all my doings to serve thee, my G.o.d!

For thy service is freedom indeed.

I would frame all my doings to please thee, my G.o.d!

But how feeble my best efforts are; Ah! how needful for me is thy chastening rod, And a proof of thy fatherly care.

I would frame all my doings to serve thee, my G.o.d!

But my goodness extends not to thee; And when on well doing I'm fully intent, Alas! evil is present with me.

My Creator, Preserver, Redeemer and King, I would tax all my powers to obey; But to Him let me look for the help that I need, Who is the life, the light, and the way.

Weston, Jan. 21, 1853.

"TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW."

Take no thought for the morrow, the Saviour hath said, And he spake as ne'er man spake before; "He carried our sorrows," "was acquainted with grief,"

And knew well what the heart could endure.

Let the morrow take care for the things of itself, And not by its weight crush thee down; Sufficient to-day is the evil thereof, Let the ills of to-morrow alone.

Neither boast of to-morrow, for what is thy life, But a vapor that floateth away; Like a _tale_ quickly told, or a _dream_ of the night, That departs at the breaking of day.

Be not like the man who once said in his heart, "I have goods that are laid by for years;"

But scarce had he planned how they best might be stored, When he dies and leaves all to his heirs.

Neither _dread_ then, nor _boast_ of to-morrow, my soul, But make most of the time that's now given; Be the ground well prepared, with good seed sown thereon, And 'twill yield a rich harvest in heaven.

Jan. 24, 1853.

REMINISCENCES OF THE DEPARTED.

His mission soon accomplished, His race on earth soon run, He pa.s.sed to realms of glory, Above the rising sun.

So beautiful that infant, When in death's arms he lay; It seemed like peaceful slumber, That morn might chase away.

But morning light was powerless, Those eyelids to unclose; And sunshine saw and left him, In undisturbed repose.

The light of those blue orbs That drank the sunbeams in, Now yields to night, and darkness Holds undisputed reign.

That little form so graceful, The light brown chestnut hair; Those half formed words when uttered, That face so sweet and fair;

All, all his ways so winning, Were impotent to save His life, when called to yield it By _Him that_ life who gave.

So soon his voyage ended, The pa.s.sage home so short, Before he knew of evil, He entered safe the port.

Since thee, my child, I saw, Long years have pa.s.sed away; Thy mother's hair then brown, Now's intermixed with gray.

Another link's been broken, By death's relentless hand; A daughter has been taken, The eldest of the band.

_Thy_ little lamp of life, Was put out in a day; But _hers_ was years expiring, By slow yet sure decay.

But _one_ short year of life, Was all allotted thee; But she, thy eldest sister, Was _many_ years spared me.