At that sweet hour of even,
When nightingales awake,
Low bending o’er her first-born son,
An anxious mother spake.
“Thou child of prayer and blessing,
Would that my soul could know,
What the unending future holds
For thee of joy or woe.
“Thy life, will it be gladness,
A sunny path of flowers;—
Or strift, with sorrow dark as death,
Through weary, wintry hours?
“Oh child of love and blessing,
Young blossom of life’s tree—
My spirit trembles but to think
What time may make of thee!
“Yet of the unveiled future
Would knowledge might be given!”
Then voices of the unseen ones
Made answer back from heaven.
FIRST VOICE.
“Tears he must shed unnumbered;
And he must strive with care,
As strives in war the armed men:
And human woe must bear.
“Must learn that joy is mockery;
That man doth mask his heart;
Must prove the trusted faithless;
And see the loved depart!
“Must feel himself alone, alone;
Must weep when none can see;
Then lock his grief, like treasure up,
For lack of sympathy.
“Must prove all human knowledge
A burden, a deceit;
And many a flattering friendship find
A dark and hollow cheat.
“Well may’st thou weep, fond mother;—
For what can life bequeath,
But tears and sighs unnumbered,
But watching, change, and death!”
SECOND VOICE.
“Rejoice, rejoice, fond mother,
Thou hast given birth,
To this immortal being,
To this sweet child of earth!
“The pearl within the ocean,
The gold within the mine,
Have not a thousandth part the worth
Of this fair child of thine!
“Oh fond and anxious mother,
Look up with joyful eyes,
For a boundless wealth of love and power
In that young spirit lies!
“Love to enfold all natures
In one benign embrace;
Power to diffuse a blessing wide
O’er all the human race!
“Bless God both night and morning;
Be thine a joyful heart;
For the child of mortal parents hath
With the Eternal part.
“The stars shall dim their brightness;
And as a parched scroll
The earth shall fade, but ne’er shall fade
The undying human soul!
“Oh then rejoice fond mother,
That thou hast given birth
To this immortal being,
To this fair child of earth?”