Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-07-16
My Mothers Picture.
WILLIAM CowPER.

o that those lips had language! Life has passed
With me 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,
'Grleve not my child; chase all thy fears
The meek intelligence OF those dear eyes
(Blest be the art that can immortalize,-
The art that battles times tyrannic claim
10 quench it!) mere shines on me still the same.
Faithful remembrancel of one SO dearl
welcome guest, though unexpected here!
Who bids me honor with artless song,
/ will illsObey-notwillIngly alone,
But gladly as the precept We're her own;
And while that face renews my ilal griet,
Fancy shall weage;a charm for my relief
Shall steep me in Elysian revery,
mOmehtary dream that th0u art she.
My mother! when learned that thou vast dead
Say, vast thou conscious of the tears shed
lowered thy spirit o. 'er thy sOrrowing SON
Wretch, even then, lite's journey just begun?
Perhaps thou gavest Ine. though unlelt, a kiss;
Perhaps u tear, If souls can weep in bliss
All that maternal smile-it answers-yes.
l heard the bell tolled on thy burial day;
saw the hearse that bore thee slow away;
And turning from nay nursery window drew
long, long sigh. and wept last adieu!
Adieus and farewells are sounds unknown;
May but meet thee that peaceful shore,
% The parting word M shall pass my lips no more.
OIt gave ME promise of thy quick return,
What ardently wished j long believed,
And. disappointed still was still deceived.
Dupe of Tomorrow even from q child.
Ihus many sad o-morrow Came and went,
Til, all my stock of infant sorrows spent,
learned at last, submission to my lot,
But, though less deplOred thee, me- 'er forgot.
Where once we dwelt our name is heard no mere.
Children not thine have trod my nursery floor:
And where the gardener Robin. day by day.
Drew me to school along the public way.
Delighted with my. b.rnble Coach, and wrapped
In scarlet mantle warm and velvet cap
IT'S now become history, little K nown.
That once We called the pastoral house our own
Short-lived possession! but the record fair
That memory keeps of all thy kindness there
SILL outllves many u storm that has enaced :
A thousand other themes, less deeply Traced:
Ty Thy nightly visits TO my chamber made
That thou nights st know me safe and warmly
Thy morning bounties ere lett my home,
The biscuit or confectionery plum;
The fragrant waters on my cheeks bestowed s
BY thy own hand. till fresh they shOns and
glowed,-
All this. and more endearing still than all,
Thy constant how of love that knew no fall -
Meier roughcned by those catar lcts and breaks
Iha, thu humGE p, interposed ,aaI too often makes;
And still to be SO to my latest age 4,
Adds joy to duty. makes me glad to pay
Such hOnOrs to thee ss my number may
Perhaps y trail memorial, but SIN cere,-
Not scorned in heaven, though little noticed
here.
Could time, his flight reversed, restore the
When playing with thy vestur e's tissued flowers,
The violet, the pink, the Jessam ine,-
piiCheu tueh iuto paper VIII u pin,
(And thou vast happier than myself the while
Would'st softly speak, and stroke my head and
smile,)
Could those few pleasant days again appear s
Might one wish bring them, would wish them
here?
l would not trust my heart, ,-the dear delight
Seems 30 to be desired, perhaps l might
But no,-What here We call our life ID such,
so little to be loved, and thou 80 much, -
That should i'll requile thee TO constrsin ( :
Thy unbound spirit into bonds az ain
| Thou-as a gallant bark lom Alb IONS coast,
(The storms all weuthered and the ocean
crOssed,)
Shoots into port as some well-havened isle
Where spices breathe and brighter seasons smile
There sits quiescent on the floods, that show
Her beauteous form reflected clear below,
While airs impregnated with incense play
Around her, tanning light her str Gamers CAV
So thou, with sails how swift! hast reached the
shore
'Where tempests never beat nor billows roar;"
And thy loved consOrt on the dangerous tide
Of Lille long since has anchored by thy side
But me. scarce hoping to attain that rest,
Always from port withheld always distressed;- -
Me howllng blasts drive devious, lempest-tossed
Sails ripped, seams opening wide and compass
And day by day some currents thwarting force
Sets me more distant from prosperous course,
| Yet o! the thought that thou art safe and he -
My boast ID not that ueduce my birth
| From loins cnthrOned, and rulers of the earth
| from higher realms my proud pretensIons rise
me son ol parents passed into the skies
And now fareweil!-Time unreyoked ha. rim
| His wonted course; yet what Il wishe is done
BY contemplation help. not sought in vain,
| seemed to have lived my childhood FER again .
Io have renewed the joys that once were mine,
| Aud, while The wings of fancy still are free,
And can view this mimic show of thee
| Time has but half succeeded IN his thelt-
Thyseli removed. thy power to soothe Inc left.