Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-05-07
o D~RPARTMgNT.
For the Spirit of the Age.
Dedicated to Maggie's Parents"

Dedicated to Maggie's Parents"
Angels must have paused in their minis
terings Of mercy, and lowering near, wept
tears Of Joy, as a mothers dearest prayer
dedicated little Maggie to Heaven. Twas
a lovely babe; a bud so frail, that a chilli :
ing breath would blast its tender petals
vet, fond parents pleaded that long life
might be given their darling Maggie. Dali
" she grew in beauty, and Oh! how like
Joyous music was the patter of her tiny
feet, ss she ran to greet a fathers coming;
and naught was half 80 sweet as the name
of mother, falling in lisping accents from
her p%rattling tongue. Years passed on,
other Aedgelings nestled in the l~ove-cot,
yet little Maggie is the dearest-for,
"'Tis ever thus, those that we love the best
Are those who give our love no time to rest"
Ever basking 10 the genial warmth of af-
fection's brightest smiles, she grew in inns-
cence and purity, as timid as a fawn, as
fragile as a lily bell. Eleven summers
passed toe quickly over her head, each
year adding stronger links to the chain of
love, that bound the parents hearts to lit
tic Maggie. But she was too good, too
beautiful for earth, and kind angels
have taken Maggie to heaven, bestowing
on her long life, even forever" Twas
just in Spring time, when the flowers she
tended 80 carefully put forth their tender
blossoms, and the birds she loved, .caroled
their first songs, that Maggie went to heay-
en-. She is goRe-no more will her smile
and guilelesgm irth repay q mother tender
watchfulnessi: the bird is fown-ne more
will her song chase the shadow from o
fathers brow.
Her toys and playthings the work bas-
. /. ket, with its tingsci6ors and thimblO the
work with needle just where Maggie left
it, each doubly endeared by sacred associ.
atoms, have been placed carefully away
There is a chair at "mother's side," that
Maggie always filed, tits vacant now, and
the fond mother lists in vain for her gen
Gle voice to ask of " Jesus and the bright
angels" There is a spot in +" father
heart" that once beamed brightly Will
love for Maggie; the light is denied now
and he can see no "silver lining" to MI
cloud of sorrow.
The Joy of his home is gone; beneath
waving willow is a little grave, freshly turf
ed with flowers, the same fragrant violet
that Maggie loved, and they hang thei
blossoms, as if they too find her absence
A shadow rests over the home once glad
dencd by Maggie's presence and weepin
is heard, where once, her voice trilled IT
sweet, simple melodies. l do not say
"weep not" fond parents, neither bid the
chase thy grief away yet, sorrow not Ions
that your little lamb is safely folded in tn
arms Of the great Shepherd.
Look not on your Maggie as dead, b'
gone before, Gas though a rose had climb
your garden wall and bloomed the 9th
side" Did nota father gentle hand pluc
your bud Of promise, and transplant it
Eden's happy shore? there no chilliI
winds OF wintry frost shall harm its tend
blossom, but ever tended by loving ange
it shall bloom, to all eternity. Then ev
remember, even while your hearts are to
with anguish, that your Maggie lives-y'
lives in Heaven, and will be the first
welcome you to the land of pure deligI
Kind was the hand that plucked tho flow
In kindness taken ere the hour
OF darkness, or Of grief SHOULD throw
Upon her brow, a shade Of woe;
Transplanted ere the winters blast,
Its blight upon tho flower should cast;
In Eden meath u fathers wing,
1t BLOOMS a bright, a glorious thing.
Yes, happy in a S%aviour's love
Thy Maggie lives, she lives above.
CASSIE HENDERSON
"Seclusa," N. G.