132 ON THE DEATH OF AN INFANT. the bitterness, turn away its head, and refuse the draught? Was this the cause why the wary babe only opened its eyes, just looked on the light, and then withdrew into the more inviting regions of undisturbed repose? Happy voyager! no sooner launched than arrived at the haven. Highly-favored probationer! accepted without being exercised. It was thy peculiar privilege not to feel the slightest of those evils which oppress thy surviving kindred; which frequently fetch groans from the most manly fortitude, or most elevated faith. The arrows of calamity, barbed with anguish, are often fixed deep in our choicest comforts. The fiery darts of temptation, shot from the hand of hell, are always flying in showers around our integrity. To thee, sweet babe, both these distresses and dangers were alike unknown. Consider this, ye mourning parents, and dry up your tears. Why should you lament that your little ones. are crowned with victory before the sword was drawn, or the conflict begun? Perhaps the Supreme Disposer of events foresaw some inevitable snare of temptation forming, or some dreadful storm of adversity impending. And why should you be so dissatisfied with that kind precaution which housed your pleasant plant, and removed into shelter a tender flower, before the thunders roared, before the lightnings flew, before the tempest poured its rage? O, remember, they are not lost, but taken away from the evil to come. (Is. lvii. 1.) DEATH OF THE FIRST BORN. WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK. YOUNG mother, he is gone! His dimpled cheek no more will touch thy breast; No more the music tone Float from his lips, to thine all fondly pressed; His smile and happy laugh are lost to thee: Earth must his mother and his pillow be. His was the morning hour, And he hath passed in beauty from the day, Torn, in its sweetness, from the parent spray; Never on earth again Will his rich accents charm thy listening ear, Breathing at eventide serene and clear; And from thy yearning heart, Whose inmost core was warm with love for him, 134 DEATH OF THE FIRST BORN. A gladness must depart, And those kind eyes with many tears be dim; Yet, mourner, while the day Rolls like the darkness of a funeral by, To stream athwart the grief-discolored sky, 'Tis from the better land! There, bathed in radiance that around them springs, As with the choiring cherubim he sings, Mother, thy child is blessed : And though his presence may be lost to thee, And missed a sweet load from thy parent knee, HYMN FOR AN INFANT'S FUNERAL. REV. LEGH RICHMOND. HARK! how the angels, as they fly, "Welcome, dear babe, to Jesus' breast, Forever there in joy to rest. Welcome to Jesus' courts above, To sing thy great Redeemer's love! "We left the heavens, and flew to earth, To watch thee at thy mortal birth: Obedient to thy Savior's will, We staid to love and guard thee still. "We, thy protecting angels, came "When the resistless call of death 136 AN ANGEL PRESENCE. "Now, with the lightning's speed, we bear Thus sweetly borne, he flies to rest; AN ANGEL PRESENCE. REV. R. C. WATERSTON. It is noteworthy that children who are taken away by death always remain in the memory of parents as children. Other children grow old, but this one continues in youth. It looks as we last saw it in health. The imagination hears its sweet voice and light step; sees its silken hair and clear bright eyes, all just as they were. Ten and twenty years may go by; the child remains in the memory, as at first, a bright, happy child. and beautiful form moves before us : young and what is such a memory but an angel presence? Certainly next to seeing an angel, is seeing with a parent's heart such a cherished form. Amidst this world of ambition and show, who shall say that this is not a means, under Providence, of subduing and spiritualiz Its |