THE CHILD AND FLOWERS. 
For a day is coming to quell the tone 
That rings in thy laughter, thou joyous one ! 
And to dim thy brow with a touch of care, 
Under the gloss of its clustering hair ; 
And to tame the flash of thy cloudless eyes 
Into the stillness of autumn skies ; 
And to teach thee that grief hath her needful part 
’Midst the hidden things of each human heart. 
Yet, shall we mourn, gentle child, for this ? 
Life hath enough of yet holier bliss. 
Such be thy portion ! the bliss to look 
With a reverent spirit through Nature’s book ; 
By fount, by forest, by river’s line, 
To track the paths of a love divine ; 
To read its deep meaning — to see and hear 
God in earth’s garden, — and not to fear. 
MRS. HEMAN& 
