The mountain Democrat., 1864-06-18
THE DUMB CHILD.

She is my only child,
I asked for her some most precious thing;
Fer all unanlshed was Loves jeweled ring,
Till set With this soft pearl
The shadow time brought forth could not see,
How pure, how TeTfect, seer ed the gin to me
Oh! many a soft old tune
/ used to sing unto that dcafenrd ear,
And suffer not the lightest foo;step near,
Lest she might wake too soon
And hushed her bruther's laughter while she lay
Ah, needless care! might have len them play
Twas long ere believed
That thiS one daughter might not SPEAK 10 me
Waited and watched-Csod kn0Ws hOH EEt!cDEy.
How willingly deceived.
Vain love was long the untir'ng nurse OF FGlth,
And tender Hope until 1t starved TO DEATH
Oh! 1! if she could but Lear,
For one short hour, tlll her ts0gue would teach
To call me mother. in the broken speech
That thrills the mothers ear.
Alas! those sealed lips never may be stirred
To the deep music of that holy word
MSheart it sorely tries,
To see her knerl with such reverent air
Beside her brothers at their evening prayer;
Or lift those earnest eyes
To watch our lips, as though our words she knew,
Then move her uwn as If she were speaking 100.
I've watched her looking up
To the bright wonder of a sunset sAy,
With such a depth e meaning in her eye
That could almost hope
The struggling soul would burst the binding CORDS,
And the long peut-up thoughts flow forth III words.
The song of bird and bee,
The chorus of the brccEcs, streams and groves,
AL the grand music to which Nature moves,
q. Are wasted melody
To her; the world of sound a tuneless void
While even silence hath its charm destroyed.
Her face is very fair;
Her blue eyes beautiful; Of finest mould
The Soft white brow, DER which, in waves Of gold
Ripples her shining hair.
Alas this lovely temple closed must be,
For He who made il keeps the master-key.
Wills he the mind within
Shall from ear his Babel elamor be kept free,
Fen that it's STILL small voice and step might be
Heard at its inner shrine,
Through that deep hush Of soul with clearer thrill
Thenlsh grielc! y, murmuring heart ,5c still
She seems to have a quiet sense
OF quiet giadness, in neiseless play;
She hath pleasant smile, n gentle way,
Whose voice less eloquencC
Touches all hearts, though had once the fear
That even her father would not care for her.
Thank God it is not so!
And, when his sons are playing merry.
She comes aud leans her head upon his knee
., at such times, know,
BY his full eye aud tuucs suhdued and mild,
How his heart ygarns over hlk siIeut child.
Not of all gifs bercrt,
kVeu now. III Nv could say She did not speak
What real Language lights her eye and cheek.
Aud renders thanks to Him WHO left
Unto her soul yet open avenues
For joy to enter, and for love TO use.
Aud God ih love doth give
To her defect beauty Of its own;
Aud we deeper tenderness have known
Through that for which grievc.
Yet shall the seal be melted from her ear;
Yes, and my voice shall fill it-Gut not here.
When that new sense is given,
What rapture will its first experience lie,
That never woke to mcaner melody
Than the rich songs of Heaven
To hear the full toned anthem swelling round,
While angels teach the ecstacies Of sound