The Innocent Listener

The widow stood beside her husband dead:
He was a man of harsh and stubborn cast;
Who hugg'd his selfish vices to the last,
And scoff'd at faith, even on his dying bed.
I spoke of love, and faith, and holy fear,
And all a patient heart could bear and do:
The mother listen'd with attentive ear,
And the poor infant seem'd to listen too.
She stretch'd her arms towards the psalm and prayer,
Forward she lean'd, as if in earnest heed,
And on the wond'rous sound attentive hung:
What sweet and wistful innocence was there,
Her open mouth and little wordless tongue,
Which never utter'd or denied a creed!