Part 10 (2/2)

You may do this, yet song can never bring One sunbeam back, let song be what it will.

Oh! painter, you can catch the glowing light That tints the skies before the coming night; With throbbing heart and upward lifted eyes, You paint the splendor of the purple skies; Yet tell me, does your genius hold the key To life's strange secrets and its mystery?

Oh! life is sad, yet suns.h.i.+ne, too, is there; We cannot tell what spell the years may weave-- Perchance a song that dies upon the air-- Perhaps a shadow that the sun doth leave.

A Memory.

Amid my treasures once I found A simple faded flower; A flower with all its beauty fled, The darling of an hour.

With bitterness I gazed awhile, Then flung it from my sight; For with it all came back to me the pain and heedless blight.

But, moved with pity and regret I took it up again; For oh, so long and wearily In darkness it had lain.

Ah, purple pansy, once I kissed Your dewy petals fair; For then, indeed, I had no thought Of earthly pain or care.

Your faded petals now I touch With sacred love and awe; For never will my heart kneel down To earthly will or law.

Your velvet beauty still is dear, Though faded now you seem; You drooped and died, yet still you are The symbol of my dream.

Sweet, modest flower, tinged with gold, A lesson you have said; Your purple glory, like my love, Is faded now, and dead.

The Baby's Tear.

A tiny drop of crystal dew That fell from baby eyes of blue; A s.h.i.+ning treasure, there it lay For grandma's love to wipe away.

A tear of sorrow, pure and meek It graced our darling's dimpled cheek; A gem so fair, that angels smiled And claimed the treasure undefiled.

A sunbeam came with winsome grace And chased the shadow from her face; A smile fell from its wings of light And baby eyes laughed at the sight.

The wee bright tear was kissed away, Yet in our hearts its sorrow lay; For like a shadow came the thought, With pain and sorrow life is wrought.

Oh, baby heart, what will you do When life's unrest is given you; And mother-love no more like this Each tear can banish with a kiss?

The love you brought, oh, baby dear, Is like the sunbeam pa.s.sing near; A ray of light--a touch of gold To keep our hearts from growing old.

Then may thy life grow strong and sweet With mother-love to guide thy feet; And may the sunbeams ever chase Each shadow, darling from thy face.

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