The American patriot., 1856-01-05
yoR THE AMERICAN PATRIOT.
my DAUGHTERS BIRTH DAY,
BY Jts. Il.


And since the Ark, from the subsiding wave,
On Arrarat reposed, into the Past
That dsep and mighty gulf Of by-gone days,
Wherein are laid, swept by the giant band,
/ OF ever onward and remorseless Time,
The nubest proudest monuments Of num-
The Furnished cities, with their eourtly halls,
Andk kingy palaces and dome and tower,
1 And mosque and mnaret and temple fair,
I Pillowcd on marble curiously worked
And rising up glorious pile which seemed
Built to endure for aye. and mock the storms
And bid defiance to the might OF Time
4 All these are gone and with them Man himselt,- :
The many generations which have lived, toed,
And thought and felt and dreamed and hoped and
Enioyed, or suffered, labored on and died.
These too are gone, and only now remain
The mourhful wreck of art and historys page,
To tell us such things were, but are no more
Ten years with all their great events, have passed
Since first my IAA" saw the gentle ight
And felt the warmth and breathed the rich pure air.
of kind heav n Since first she helpless lay,
In feeble infancy little bud
With all the hidden elements ofgrowth,
And beautiful expanson,-by degrees,
To rise into flower and to untold,
The opening wonder Of human soul!
Since arst against her own the mothers heart
Brmmed over with excess of holy love,
Unconscious beat and the maternal kiss,
Pure as an Angels touch, and sanctihed
Bv all that mortal has of heav'n, impressed
On little lips, enwreathed with dreaming smiles,
Tremulously startled from that sweet sleep,
Which reproving conscience troubles not,
And only infant innocency knows
Ten years, she has been spared to bless the home,
of which she is the pleasure and delight
The sunny warmth, the radence and the joy
Her parents gladness, and their hearts true life!
Their treasure and their hope, and dearer far
Than everything most dear, more loved than ALL
Most loved .-more precious than the air and light
By which we live'-Ten yeara have passed away
Passed like pleasant dream away, nor le1t
For her, one a-wrought trace of asting grief!
One heavy sorrow, that weighs down the heart,
And chis the young blood in its genial flow!
l Sorrows she hadl-Who has them noG Alas
e They come to 1.-THE youug-the old-the pure
s Not as coutriton and remorse for deeds,
0 Which press upon the soul and fill the heart
4 With anguish, deep corroding, and which lives
o Through years Of suffering and endurance stili
e They came to her from providence Of God!
q time and all her joyousness was gone,
And childish grief found vent in gush Of tears,
- And soon the storm passed on and all was bright!
= Her gone-by years as all our young years were
Were hours Of Sunshine and unclouded skies
The heart was free and light as air.
The pulse beat hcalthlul and the circIng blood,
Coursed through the veins, imparting constant
/ growth
II And bounding Life in its unceasing lowi
e The earth to her, was bright and beautiful
a OF loyeness very Paradise
Along her path, the flowers We're thiekly strown
IL On either side they grew and she reached cut,
ct And plucked them from their tiny stems and wo'
le Fresh garlands for her hair, or threw them by,
,e And weraied slept, beneath empowering sweets,
g. The painted butterfly, from bank to bank,
: She joyous chased; if caught, moment wrapt,
IN In childish admiration, she set free,
N The struggling captive and behed his flight,
=, Swift upward and away with wild delight!
Or cautious stealing to the hollohock,
moment watched the humble bee at work,
'e Then closing quickly the expanded rim,
She bore him of a prisoner at her will
ID The air was full Of melody and song!
. Gay fathered birds to her wonder were!
A constant wonder and an all. day talk
= She marveled at the deep blue vault above,
And watched the sivery vapors as they scut,
IL Bright barks Of pearl upon azure sch
'e Before the wind, or else the dark rain-cloud
III And fearful say the vivid lightning flash,
'e And trembled at the thunders sudden peal!
1T But when the rainbow came out on the brow
y OF the retreating storm, and seemed the earth.
On either side to touch away she ran
To meet, or overtake and thinking when,
g. She reached the spot, a bag Of gold to find
H. Sweet hours of childhood. Blessed morn of lif'
n Bright moments in earths weary pilgrimage,
The young souls heaven and where the heart is fu
rs Of gushing raptures which continual flow
IS Oh! who in after years, has not gone back
Of To early days and been child agailf-
u Leaving behind the lfc-tormenting world,
~ And living only in the joyous past!
10 Ny child, you are before and around,
to Are young companions of your happy days!
Unfolded roses in the blushing morn
il And liquid dew of life! To them as you,
le The earth and heaven bright and beauty sleep
i'll On howery banks and music fills the groves,
at And hearts are over-running with delight.
at This day another year begins, for you!
~ And may it be as beautiful and blest
u, As full of sunshine and delicious sweets,
a OF heavenly sounds and wonders to engage,