, 1880-06-20
THE MUTE MOTHER.

[Dcdtcnted to Mrs. J. L. Peetl
10 thee the world Is beautiful and bright:
The trees. @ the ho"ers' una ""roiers IN then
The dlssant landscapes, and the gorgeous ctouds
TIT a yins nay IN n Soasn 4st shToas a
The ruinl,ow-tints reflected IN the dew.
Thc ticetIng shadows Of the Northern Lights.
The teesrI,lg stars that cheer the aVntar-nIghts:
Aud thou hast seen tho !ightntng's vivid aash,
But never heard the rolling thunder's crash. -
The goldcn-tnted buttereups Mt dawn:
And gazctl, in early snring, on snowdrops PALE
The maiden rtsse, rurc. blushtng. thou hast seeA
The dautnsk buds in messy rlbes OF green,
The crimson tulp yellow datfodil,
And yiolcts blue beside the mur1nurtng rill-
But Natures voices thou hast never beard
The cheerful songs OF hummlng bee and bird;
Loves gentle accents thou wilt never hear
Thy babes first coo, sweet rs an Angels smile,
His prsattling tongue, will ne'er thy heart be.
But thou , r.,nst feel his faintest sob or sigh,
And read his fond affection In hts eye
And dost thou never in nights stiffness bear,
In dreams, sofs music break upon thine eur,
Like tho fulnt echoes OF holy choir
~ nsiI t sd Mnbem borne r noou The breeza
With ot1ors Inden frr,:n tho towering trees;
The signing OF the Winds on Summers night,
The raging Of the tempest in its might;
The oceail- waves that lush tho ruck-bound
shore.
The mighty voices in the breakers roar?
Hast never heart the buxies thrilling sound,
The deep-toned organs voice on holy ground:
Tie p plaintIT ute M the T o"a % snrI fR fs ot war;
The inspiring band TINT cheers the soldiers
The ,nuiticd drum, that mourns comrade dead:
The wedding chimes whose music fills the air,
The Angelus thnt tells the hour Ut PRAYER;
The sud slow tolllne b.:ll, whose note & o. gloom .
tomb;
Or NATURES music in the eddying brooks
That DER smooth pebbles glide, pust shady
And Joins It's low. soft voice in g1rxlIns trills
The swelling chorus from the mountains hight
In sounds rs varying US its sinuous d1shtr
Chanting its harmony IS f. q dream. -
And chiliixeful ,ls tho sunlight ON Its stream
Now sweet us childish glee. now wild and sharp.
Now like the signing OF the !Eolian harp,
INV ike n mother ) fcrvont voice Il, prayer,
Now like the music when afay-Quecns are
Now like 's1h Niasara's laundering voice profound
0 couldst thou hear Youths sweet. meiodlous
When huppy hearts in harmony reIotce!
'Ta likc tho 10y when love awakes the heart;
IT'S like the grief when lovers fond must part;
"ris like the s,,iace when tO Heaven VIC pray
For His projecting cnrc by night and day:
'Tis like the blue sky r1ftiug through the cloud
When the neFEe tempest DElloHS AeCp aN0
'Ts like the motion IF ship ut SCH,
The graceful l-,rayinx grain on bill! and len,
The silvery moonbcau, On Il quiet Lake.
Thc morning sunlight OH the snowy hake.
The diamond dcwdrops on tho blooming hoWerss
The lows and SORROWS of departed hours
The cf1unving shadows on the 1nountain-side,
The lusy sunset clouds mt evcuttde,
The ruy OF hope that dries tho sorroWtn8 tears,
The radiant smile that soothes tho orphans
The graceful, gliding swallows on the wing,
The showers OF falling blossoms In the Springs
"ris like the love that Ills the mothers breast
When TO her bosom her trst-born Is pressed;
"ris like the perfume wheu the lily lends
Its OlOr to the rose, and 5wettly blends
With Surnmer-zephyEs~ softly, sadly slEhfng:
Or Loves first virgin kiss in raptures dying
But thou wilt hear. In that bright, happy land
When Jesus bids rhee lay thy burden down, =
Thy earthly sorrOws change for Glory.s crown,
Tho Ch.lubim fIfE up ther voice in sony,
And Seruphtm the sacred chords proiOug,
And, while the Heavenly choir their voices
L. r1isc,
Then win ill Natures ml,sic charm thine ears,
From distant planets and revolving spheres,
I And uutold worlds IA the unfathom'd space,
| Waiting their anthems to the Throne OF Grace;
| Their prayers to Heaven ascend like incense
sweet,
And mingc with thy songs at Jesus feet.
/ And thou wilt bear, NH music sweeter still
| The gentle words Of Love thy soul will I'LL.
And lhy dear chldrcn's voices sweetly CALL
"Mother"-the dearest, pursst, ho1isst pune OF
FEE. "a u. .ssa