1856 BIRTH AND DEATH OF A SON 163 



WiUst du dir ein hUbsch Leben zimmern, 

 Musst dich ans Vergangene nicht bekiimmern ; 

 Und ware dir auch was Verloren, 

 Musst immer thun wie neugeborcn. 

 Was jeder Tag will, sollst du fragen ; 

 Was jeder Tag will, wird er sagen. 

 Musst dich an eigenem Thun ergotzen ; 

 Was andere thun, das wirst du schatzen. 

 Besonders keinen Menschen hassen 

 Und das Ubrige Gott tiberlassen.* 



Half-past ten at night. 



Waiting for my child. I seem to fancy it the pledge that 

 all these things shall be. 



Born five minutes before twelve. Thank God. New 

 Year's Day, 1857. 



Sept. 20, i860. 



And the same child, our Noel, our first-born, after being for 

 nearly four years our delight and our joy, was carried off by 

 scarlet fever in forty-eight hours. This day week he and I had 

 a great romp together. On Friday his restless head, with its 

 bright blue eyes and tangled golden hair, tossed all day upon 

 his pillow. On Saturday night the fifteenth, I carried him 

 here into my study, and laid his cold still body here where I 

 write. Here too on Sunday night came his mother and I to that 

 holy leave-taking. 



My boy is gone, but in a higher and a better sense than was 

 in my mind when I wrote four years ago what stands above — 

 I feel that my fancy has been fulfilled. I say heartily and with- 

 out bitterness — Amen, so let it be. 



* Wilt shape a noble life ? Then cast 

 No backward glances to the past. 

 And what if something still be lost? 

 Act as new-born in all thou dost. 

 What each day wills, that shalt thou ask ; 

 Each day will tell its proper task ; 

 What others do, that shalt thou prize. 

 In thine own work thy guerdon lies. 

 This above all : hate none. The rest — 

 Leave it to God. He knoweth best. 



