Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-06-28
THE TllR EE SONS,
BY REV. J. MoULTRIE,

know lie loveth me,
But he loveh vet his mother more,
With grealful fervency.
Blu, that which others most admire,
Is the thought that fills his mind,
The food Tor grave. inquiring speech,
He every where doth find.
Strange questions doth he ask Of me,
When we together walk;
He scarcely thinks as children think,
Or talks as CHI ildren talk.
Nor cares lie much for childish SPORTS
Dotes not on bat or ball,
But looks on manhood's ways and works,
And aptly mimics Ill.,
His lutte heart is busy still,
And olientmes perplex'd
With thoughts about this world OF ours,
And thoughts about the next,
He kneels at his dear mothers knee,
She ieachel him TO pray,
And strange, and sweet, and solemn, then,
Are the words which he will say.
Oh, should my gentle child be spared
10 manhood's years, like me,
A holier and wiser man
trust that he will be.
And when look into his eyes,
And on his thoughtful brow,
1 dare not think what should feel,
Were 10 lose him now.
have son, a second SON,
A simple child ofihree
Tll not declare how bright and fair
His little features be.
do not think his light blue eye
Is like his bro,her's keen,
Nor his brow so full Of childish thought,
As his hath ever been.
But his little hearts fountain pure,
Ofkind and tender feeling,
And his every looks a CLEAN Of light,
Rich depths ofIoye revealing.
When he walks with me, the country folks,
Who pass US in the street,
viii shout for jov. and bless my boy,
lie looks SO mild and sweet.
A pIayfellow is he 10 all,
And yet, with cheerful tone,
Will sing his little song Of love,
When left 10 sport alone.
His presence is like sunshine, sent
TO gladden. home, the earth,
To comfort us in all our griefs,
And sweeen all our mirlh.
Should he grow up 10 ripper years,
God grant his heart may prove
As sweet home for heavenly grace,
As now for earthly love.
And f, beside his grave, The tears
Our aching ewes must dim,
God comfort US for all the love
Which we shall loose in him.
l have son, third sweet son,
His age ] canno, tell,
For they reckon not by years and months,
Where he halh gone 10 dwell.
To US, for fourteen anxious monlhs,
His infin, smiles were given,
And then he bade farewell To earth,
And went 10 live in heaven.
! cannot tell what form is his,
What looks he wearel now,
Nor guess how bright glory crowns
His shining seraph brow.
The thoughts that fill his sinless soul,
The bliss which he doth feel,
Are numbered with the secret things
Which God will not reveal.
But ] know. for God hath told me this,
That he is now AT rest,
Where other blessed infants are,
On their Saviour's loving breast.
Wha,e'er befalIs his brethren twain,
HIS bliss can never cease;
Their lot may here be grief and fear,
But his is certain peace.
II may be that The iempler's wiles
Their souls from bliss may sever,
But, II our own Loor faith fail not,
He must be ours for ever.
When we think on what our darling is,
And what we still must be /;
When we muse on that worlds perfect bliss,
And this worlds misery
When we groan beneath this load OF sin,
And feel this grief and pain,
Oh. we'd rather lose our other Two,
Than have him here again.
uo-,, unnnn III