My Wife and Child

The tattoo beats; the lights are gone;
The camp around in slumber lies;
The night with solemn pace moves on;
The shadows thicken o'er the skies;
But sleep my weary eyes hath flown,
And sad, uneasy thoughts arise.
I think of thee, oh, dearest one!
Whose love mine early life hath blest;
Of thee and him — our baby son —
Who slumbers on thy gentle breast: —
God of the tender, frail and lone,
Oh, guard that little sleeper's rest!
And hover, gently hover near
To her, whose watchful eye is wet —
The mother, wife — the doubly dear,
In whose young heart have freshly met
Two streams of love, so deep and clear —
And cheer her drooping spirit yet!
Now, as she kneels before thy throne,
Oh, teach her, Ruler of the skies!
That while by thy behest alone
Earth's mightiest powers fall or rise,
No tear is wept to thee unknown,
Nor hair is lost, nor sparrow dies;
That thou canst stay the ruthless hand
Of dark disease, and soothe its pain —
That only by thy stern command
The battle's lost, the soldier slain;
That from the distant sea or land
Thou bring'st the wanderer home again!
And when, upon her pillow lone,
Her tear-wet cheek is sadly pressed,
May happier visions beam upon
The brightening currents of her breast, —
Nor frowning look, nor angry tone
Disturb the sabbath of her rest!
Wherever fate those forms may throw,
Loved with a passion almost wild —
By day, by night — in joy or wo —
By fears oppressed, or hopes beguiled —
From every danger, every foe,
Oh, God! protect my wife and child!