The morning call., 1890-06-01
THE LAST LULLABY.

She sat, depressing her anguish wild,
Beside the couch of her suf'r ring child.
She knew her dearest, her youngest born,
Was doomed to die ere the dawn of morn.
On his paliid brow the shadow gray
OF Azraers wing already lay.
He had struggled long in tolls of pain;
II is feeble strength in the strife proved vain,
And now the pulse OF his life ebb'd low,
The fiutt'riDg breath came labored, slow.
And she who would glad her hearts blood give,
II by doing SO he might but hive,
Knew that hope vain! the fat pass'd,
E. en- love like hers might not hold him fast
He lay there unconscious of her care;
So white. SO still, yet so very fair
That he seemed already to belong
To waiting hosts of the angel throng.
But sudden he stirr'd, Enclosed his eyes,
Blue as the depths of the bluest skies,
And softly called: " Mother art thou here 2"
She bent DER him: " Darling, am near
His hand sought hers: "0h, have no PAIN"
He said, land the throbbing in my brain
Is quite gone. Nay, why then do you weep?
am very tired; Pll try to sleep;
But first sing to me the vesper sOng;
have not heard it ever so long.
There, my hand in yours like this you'll keep,
And as you sing Will fall asleepP
The bitter teardrops fell thick and fast;
But her great love conquered self at last,
And with a voice that oft futter'd sore,
She sang the lullaby song once more.
Sleep, sleep, dear one sleep!
Leave the work and leave the play,
Ended is the long, bright day.
Tired feet no more may roam,
Lo, the cleaning calls us home!
For the sun hath gone to rest
Meath the eloud-lses in the west
And the twilight shadows fall
Softly, gently, over all;
While the birds in chorus strong,
Sing the world vesper song,
And the burden OF their strain
Ever is the low refrain
Sleep, sleep, calmly sleep!
Sleep sleep, dear one, sleepl
Night has come, yet have no fear,
Guardian spirits hover near
On the pale moons silver beams
Angels send thee happy dreams;
Visions of tairer world,
Neer by misty shadows furld;
Glimpses OF wOndrOuS cline
Where there rules no tyrant-Time;
Where there is no grief, no pain,
But eternal peace doth reign;
Sin and sorrow are unknown,
All we wish for is our own.
Sleep, sleep, sweetly sleep
The blue eyes open'd and glanced around;
He seemed to list for some half-caught sound.
IL Mother, thought heard some one call,
And then saw shadow, dark and TALL
Bend DER me-" Her heart grew chill with fear,
Yet she said "Thou vert but dreaming, dear;
Aud the freight flick'ring on the wall
Made the giant shadow; that was ALL"
He smiled and whispered: Finish the songl
To drop to sleep seems 10 take so long;
But you Will not mind it, mother, dear,
That keep you sitting with me here?'
She kiss'd his face and to hide her pain,
Tremblingly resumed the broken strain.
Sleep sleep, dear one, sleep!
Birds and bees and flowers gay,
Thy bright playmates through the day,
BY the drowsy spell are bound,
All are luIpd to Slun5er sound.
And the south wind sweeps along,
Grooming the earth's cradle song,
Singing low the world is ble est,
Lying STEPPED in bissful rest,
For the day though e'er SO fair,
Brings some burden still of care;
Night and sleep alone hold calm,
And for ev'ry wound balm.
Sleep, Sleep sweety sleepl
As lute-strlng sudden snapt In twain,
Her voice is hush'd In the low refrain:
The freight fiick'ring to and fro,
On the wall doth strange, tail shadows throw;
Pale mOonbeams crown with halo mild
The fair. white brow of the little child.
A softer beauty, rarer grace,
Lies now on the upturn'd, peaceful face,
AS one whom most pleasant dreams beguile,
On parted lips turks placid smile.
Well might We fancy from earth-thralls free,
Those eyes behold now what angels see.
Hush. sorrowlng mother cease to weep,
Thy child has fallen in truth asleep.
Field his hands upon the quiet breast,
And cuf5 Thy grief lest 1t break his rest.
San Francisco, Nay, ISSG-- SELMA SCHMIDT.