[ 462 ] [Nov. 



THE MOTHER'S MONITOR ; 



SUGGESTED BY A GERMAN LEGEND. 



Six playful summers had he seen, 



The widowed mother's only boy ; 

 Her care, her play-fellow had been, 



The last dear spark of life and joy. 



None ever caught his glancing eye, 



But longed to look on it again ; 

 " Heaven bless due !'' breathed the passer-by, 



And churlish hearts still joined " Amen !" 



Did he, who gave the treasured bliss, 



But grant it as a taste of heaven, 

 To teach of better worlds than this ? 



Alas ! 'twas only lent, not given. 



E'en in the spring-tide of his day, 

 When closest to her heart he clung, 



He pined, and sickened slow away ; 



The widow's wail, his death-dirge sung. 



Now most forlorn she sits alone, 



There, where she watched his heartfelt glee, 

 While memory brings with every groan, 



Her boy's gay laugh of ecstacy. 



Nor faith, nor hope, can reach her there ; 



Death is before her, round her, still. 

 That aching heart can raise no prayer ; 



Those streaming eyes ne'er cease to fill. 



Tis that still hour when all should sleep, 

 And bless, in dreams, kind Nature's care ; 



What form is that which seems to weep, 

 And stand in lovely sorrow there ? 



It bears her boy's transparent brow, 

 His soft round lip may there be seen ; 



But ashy white, its coral now, 

 For death now breathed where life had been. 



Yet 'tis her boy ! Oh, was it woe, 



Or was it bliss, that shade to see ? 

 A moment ceased her tears to flow, 



" Com'st thou, my boy, to comfort me ? " 



" Oh mother ! look upon my shroud ; 



" 'Tis ever wet with tears of thine ; 

 " Past is the time for grief allowed, 



" Now heaven's bright hope again should shine. 



" Oh mother ! let me rest in peace, 



" Till on thy breast again I lie ; 

 " And let it make thy sorrows cease, 



" That thou shalt hope, not fear, to die." 



Blest as the ray th-it paints the bow, 

 When God's own word to man is given, 



Was that sweet voice, which bade her know 

 She should behold his face in Heaven ! 



