QUIETLY sleeping on its little couch
The cherish'd infant lay; its curly hair
Twin'd lovingly about the tranquil brow,
And droop'd caressing o'er its eyelids fair,
As if to guard from harm some soft blue tinge
Of those sweet eyes within their glossy fringe.

Its small white limbs beneath the snowy folds,
Models of infant beauty, strength and grace,
Repos'd: a childish smile of love and glee
Rested upon the yet untainted face:
Its tiny hands enclos'd a scented flower,
Cull'd in its evening sports at twilight hour.

A year pass'd by; and at the eventide
A little child lay quietly,--and slept.
Its innocent face was dew'd with tears as if
Some loving eye had lately o'er it wept
In agony of grief; yet why were tears
Shed for the pure in heart, the young in years?

It is so quiet; when we saw it last
It smil'd, as though some airy sprite had brought
A vision of gay fairy-land, and woven
The golden tissue with its infant thought;
And the little heart beat softly as it press'd
A fragrant blossom to its snowy breast.

Mother!--in former times the first-born son
Was vow'd unto the Lord, and shalt thou now
Murmur because Jehovah claims his own,
And sets his seal upon thy darling's brow?
Shall thy devoted heart be found more cold
Than Samuel's mother in the days of old?

Sever from that dear head one curly lock,
And treasure it with care; in after years,
When gazing on it, think the others wave
O'er eyes that gaze on Christ undimm'd by tears.
Some truth, some warning made the trial fit:
He gave, he took away. Do thou submit.