THE FAIRY'S SEARCH. 21 



And hope and peace and joy belong 



To all wiio trod those halls ; 



But ah ! no mortal home is free 



From care's intrusive form ; 



And never human heart can be 



Exempt from sorrow's storm. 



Within a large and lofty room 



Where mocking splendor's smil'd, 



A mother sat in grief and gloom 



And sorrow'd o'er her child : — 



Not o'er her child — but o'er the clay 



That, when the yester-morn had birth, 



Enshrin'd a " gem of purest ray," 



A pearl of priceless worth. 



A Mighty Power hath claim'd the gem, 



With purpose good and wise, 



And set it in a diadem 



Whose light illumes the skies. 



The mother knows her pearl will shine 



Far brighter in its home above, 



Yet must her spirit long repine 



For that which woke its fondest love. 



The rifled casket still is dear 



Although its light is fled, 



And mourning love must drop a tear 



Above the early dead. 



With eyes that rain like Summer showers. 



With trembling hand and anguish'd face. 



The mother now, with clustering flowers 



Bedeck's her child's last dwelling place. 



Ah, see how fair his pallid brow 



Looks in that rosy garland now ! 



And mark what life-like hue is caught 



