An Angel's Gift

A LITTLE boy with clustered curl
And soft wide eyes of ocean blue
Was kneeling where the misty swirl
Of one sunbeam came silent through
The shadow of a curtain'd room
On cradled sister newly come.

Was kneeling by the tiny bed,
And gazing on the tiny child
Asleep with hand above her head.
And whispered, " Down the beam so mild,
Baby, did the angel move
Folding thee with arms of love ?

"Tearful left thee with us here,
Lingered long the heavenward wings,
Poised upon the shining air,
Warmth of angel- folding clings
Still O sister babe to thee
Lapt in such serenity !

' Feeling yet those living thrills
Of the stainless angel breast.
When thine infant spirit fills
With the rapture, unrepressed
Lo ! thy face it overflows
In a smile mysterious."

Came the father while the boy
Thoughts like these was whispering,
Gazed upon the common joy.
Felt " From far my babe must bring
Calm that seems profound as death,
Yet is of life that openeth.

" I cannot deem such peace akin
To any after peace of ours :
Yet is it only that within
The spirit sleeps with folded powers ?
A pilgrim sleeping in the vale
No dreams of dizzy climbs assail.

" But each new height the spirit gains
A fiercer storm of trouble daunts.
Beyond the region of the rains
And virgin snows the condor haunts.
Far o'er the currents of our air
Is there a sphere serene and rare?

"We dream, we hope, we trust that those
Who with perplexed yet sunward face,
With wavering steps and tortuous,
Still brave the mist shall find the place.
Then Love's rich spices shall embalm
This fair void shell of baby calm.

" We know not what and whence we are.
Nor how this human spirit grows;
But should thy steps in years afar
E'er turn where she and I repose,
The grass of our twin graves will move
And whisper, ' They were led by Love ! ' "

Then came the mother : " Look, my boy,
Your angel comes who brought the child,"
The father said ; she brimmed with joy
Spake, "Jesus too was baby mild ;
My yearnings dying accents are
That fall from His undying care."