Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-09-25

Hail, to this teeming stage of strife:
Hal, lovely mini ature of life!
Pilgrim of many cares untold
Lamb of the worlds extended fold
Fountain Of hopes and doubts and fears!
Sweet promise of ecstatic years!
How conld l family bend the knee,
AID ,arn ldolater to tiec
IL.
iris natures orship-felt--confess'd,
Far as the life which warns the breast;
The sturdy savage midst his clan,
The rudest portraiture OF Iasn,
In trackless woods and boundless plains,
Where everlasting wilclness regns,
Owns the still throb-the secret start,
The hidden impulse Of the heart.
HI
Dear babe! ere yet upon thy years,
The soil of human vice appears
Ere passion hath disturbed thy cheek,
And prompted what thou dar'st not speak
Ere that pale lip is blanch'6 with care,
Or from those eyes shoot fierce despair,
Would could make thine untun'd ear,
Aud gust it with fathers prsy,r,
w.
But little reek'st thou, oh my child -
OF travail On LIES thorny wild!
OF all the dangers-ali the woes,
Each totterins footstep which nclose--
All little reek'stthou of the scene
So darily wrought that spreads between
The little alive here can find,
Aad the dark mystic sphere behind
Lutte reekst thou, my earliest BORN
Ut clouds which gstler round Thy Morn
OF actst iure thy soul as,ray-
OF snares that intersect thy way
vi secret toes-of IT, ends untrue
Or friends who STAB tie hearts they WOO
Little thou Feek'st OF his sad ,tofe-
Would thou mig hist never reek them morei
VI
But thou wlit burst this transient sleep,
And ihca wiki wake, Tny babe, to weep
The tenant OF trail abode,
iEy teGrs must how as mlKe have now'd--
BcSuPd ~ loilies, every day,
Sprrow must wash the faults away;
aud thou maj st wake, percharce 10 prove,
Tns panS of unrequitsd love.
Unconscious babe! tho' on that brow,
No hsn Iiedgd misery nesties now
Scarce rount. those placid Ups snple
Ma ernal foudUcss shall psguile,
Ere the moist footsteps of q tear
Shall plant dieir dewy traces there,
And prema'uieiy pave The way
For sorrows ot y rIper day
VIII ta
Oh could fathers pray'r repel
The eyes sad grlet-the bosom's swell!l
Oc c.nid q father hope 20 bear
n darling chiid's allotted care
Then thSu, my ba2e, ehouid'st slumber still,
Exempted tom III humss Ill,
q pa eats lose, tly peare Should free,
And ask It's wounds 4sain for thee
Sleeo on my child the slnn,bar h,;af
400 soon snail melt away to grief
Zoo sOUn The dawn OF wee shall break,
and brihy rilis bedew dat check
Too SOON snail sadness quench those eyes,
Tia, breast be agonIz'd with sighs-
And anguish 'er the beams of loon,
Lead clouds OF cale-ah much too soon.
X.
Soon wilt thou reck of cares unknown,
OF wants and sorrows sill their OWL
OF many pang and many wo,
That Thy dear sex alone can know
Of msl,y al III, untold, unsung,
IhAt%ll not. may not, find tongue
Bet kept eonceafd, without controul,
Spread the fell cancers Of tlle soul
XII
Yet be thy lot my babe, more blest,
AIay JOY sail ANIMATE tI.y breastt
St.l. GiIdst Thy l5sst propitious days,
Shocking its rich inspiring rays!
Afei.ier's heart s6..A daily bear
Try name upon rs secret Psay'f--
Atid a. he seeksLis las repose,
I4ilne mage ease Lies parting ,hroes.
XII.
1ae1 hail sweet miniature Of lifei
Hsl1 10 this tecming stage Of strife
Piqrfm Of many emes untold.
Lamb OF the worlds extended fold
Fountain Of hopes aud doa5ts anQfears
Sweet pfonise Of ecstat.c years
How could family bend Tie knee,
And turn idoator TO thee