Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-02-01
GcleftC0 11ortrn.
On the Receipt of my Mothers Picture
Out of Norfolk.
THE GIFT OF Ny COUSIN, ANNE BoDHAM
BY WILLIAM COwPER,

THE GIFT OF Ny COUSIN, ANNE BoDHAM.
BY WILLIAM cowPER.
o THAT those lips had languages Life has passed
With NE but roughly since heard thee last
Those lips are thine-thy own sweet smile see,
The same that oft in childhood solaced me
Voice only fails, else how distinct they say,
'.Grieve not, my child. chase all thy fears awayr'
The meek intelligence of those dear eyes
Be,t be the art that can irnmortaize,
The art that battles times tyrannic claim
To queneh it j here shines on me still the same.
Faithful remembrancer of one 50 dear,
On welcome guest, though unexpected here!
Who bid-t NE honour with an artess song,
ATectiOnate, mother lost 50 long,
I viii obey, rot willingly alone.
But gladly, the precept were her own
And, while that face renews my fiiaI grief,
Fancy shall weave charm for my relief,
Shall steep in Ely ian reverie,
A momen;ary dream, that thou art She
My mother when I learnd that thou vast dead,
Say, vast thou nscIous of the tears she'd
Hoyered thy spirit o'er thy sorrCwing son,
Wretch even then, Hte's journey ju,t begun
Perhaps thou gave. me. though unfelt. u kiss;
Perhaps a tear, II souls can weep in bliss
Al, that maternal smile it answers-Yes-
saw the hearze that bore thee slow away,
And, turning from my nursery window, drew
A To- q, long sigh, and wPpt last adleu !
But was it such 1T was.-Where thou art gone
Adieus and farewells are a sound unknown.
May but meet thee on that peaceful shore,
The parting word shall pass my lips no more!
Thy majdens, grieved themselves at my concern,
Oft gave me promise of thy quick return.
a-5ar+Iv ,viSb'd Icnr believed.
And disappointed still, was still deceived
BY expectation every day beguiI'd,
Dupe of tomorrow from q child.
Thus many a sad tomorrow came and went,
TIL all my stock of infant spent,
learned at last submission to my lot
But, though less deplored thee. ne'er forgot.
Where once we dweIt me is heard no more,
Children not thine have trod my nursery floor;
Aud where the gardener Robin, day by day,
Drew me to school along the public way,
Delighted with my bauble coach, and wrapt
In scarlet mantle warm, and ve.vet-eapt,
IT'S n now become a history little known,
That once we caITd he pastoral house our own.
Short lived possession ! But the record fair,
That memory keeps of all thy kindness there,
Still o1tlives many a storm, that has efaced
thou, and other themes less deeply traced,
Thy nightly visits to my chamber made,
That thou nlightst know me safe and warmly laid,
Thy morning bounties ere left my home,
The biscuit or confectionery plum
The fragrant waters on my cheeks bes1ow'd
By thy own hand, till fresh they shone and glow'd
All this, and more endearing' still than all,
Thy constant flow of loYe, that knew no fall,
Ne'er roughen'd by those cataracts and breaks,
That hulnor interposed too often makes;
All this still IegibIe in memory's page,
And still to be so to my latest age,
Adds ioy to duty, makes glad to pay
Such honors to thee as my numbers may
Perhaps fraiI memorial, but sincere,
Not scornd in heaven, though little noticed here.
Could time his fight reversed restore the hours,
When. playing with thy vesture's tissued flowers,
The violet the pink, the jessamine,
pricIed them into paper with pin,
fAnd thou vast happier than myself the while,
Wouldst softly speak, and stroke my head, and smile
Could those few pleasant days again appear,
Night one wish bring them, would I wish them here
l would not trust my heart the dear delight
Seems 50 TO be desired. perhaps might
But no-what here we call our life is such,
So little to be loved, and thou much,
That should i'll requite thee to constrain
Thy unbound spirit into bones again.
Thou, a gallant bark from Abion's coast
THE storms all weather q ana the ocean cross ~
shoots into port at some well haven'd isle,
Where spices breathe, aud brighter seasons smile,
There sits quieseent on the foods that show
Her beauteous form reflected clear below.
While airs impreEnated with incense play
Around her. tanning light her treamers gay
So thou, with sails how swift hast reachd the shore
Where ternpezts never beat nor pillows roar -
And thv loved consort on the dangerous tide
OF life long sfrce has anchor'd by thy side.
But me. scarce oying to attain that rest,
Alvavs from port withheld. always distressed
Ne howling blasts drive devious, tempest-toss'd,
Sails ripped, seams opening wide, and compass lost,
And day BY day some currents thwarting force
Sets me more distant from prosperous course.
Yet 0 the thought, that thou art safe, and he
That thought i Joy. arrive what may to me.
NJ boast is not that deduce my birth
From Ioins entlroued, and rulers OF the earth
But higher far ny proud pretensionS ris' -
The son Of parent pass ID INTO the skies.
AID now farewell Time unrevoked has
His vouted course, yet what vish'd is done.
B. con5emplation's help, not sought in vain,
7 ee to have lived my childhood Ger again
To have relev'I me joys th1s oacs re mine,
without the sin Of violating thine
And waiIe the w.ngs of fancy still are free,
And can view this mimic show Of thee,
Tine has but half succeeded in his theft
ThyseIf removed, thy power to soothe me left.