Promising that he should suffer

No more in a little while, Murmuring tender song and story Weary hours to beguile.

Suddenly an unseen Presence

Checked those constant moaning cries, Stilled the little heart's quick fluttering, Raised those blue and wondering eyes, Fixed on some mysterious vision, With a startled sweet surprise.

For a radiant angel hovered,
Smiling, o'er the little bed;
White his raiment, from his shoulders

Snowy dove-like pinions spread,
And a starlike light was shining
In a Glory round his head.

While, with tender love, the angel,
Leaning o'er the little nest,
In his arms the sick child folding,
Laid him gently on his breast,
Sobs and wailings told the mother
That her darling was at rest.

So the angel, slowly rising,

Spread his wings; and, through the air, Bore the child, and while he held him

To his heart with loving care,

Placed a branch of crimson roses
Tenderly beside him there.

While the child, thus clinging, floated
Towards the mansions of the Blest,
Gazing from his shining guardian
To the flowers upon his breast,
Thus the angel spake, still smiling
On the little heavenly guest:

"Know, dear little one, that Heaven
Does no earthly thing disdain,
Man's poor joys find there an echo
Just as surely as his pain;
Love, on earth so feebly striving,
Lives divine in Heaven again!

"Once in that great town below us,
In a poor and narrow street,
Dwelt a little sickly orphan;
Gentle aid, or pity sweet,
Never in life's rugged pathway
Guided his poor tottering feet.

"All the striving anxious forethought That should only come with age, Weighed upon his baby spirit,

Showed him soon life's sternest page: Grim Want was his nurse, and Sorrow Was his only heritage.

"All too weak for childish pastimes,
Drearily the hours sped;

On his hands so small and trembling
Leaning his poor aching head,
Or, through dark and painful hours,
Lying sleepless on his bed.

"Dreaming strange and longing fancies.
Of cool forests far away;
And of rosy, happy children,
Laughing merrily at play,

Coming home through green lanes, bearing

Trailing boughs of blooming May.

"Scarce a glimpse of azure heaven Gleamed above that narrow street,

And the sultry air of Summer

(That you call so warm and sweet) Fevered the poor Orphan, dwelling In the crowded alley's heat.

"One bright day, with feeble footsteps
Slowly forth he tried to crawl,
Through the crowded city's pathways,
Till he reached a garden-wall;
Where 'mid princely halls and mansions
Stood the lordliest of all.

"There were trees with giant branches, Velvet glades where shadows hide :

There were sparkling fountains glancing, Flowers, which in luxuriant pride Even wafted breaths of perfume

To the child who stood outside

"He against the gate of iron

Pressed his wan and wistful face,
Gazing with an awe-struck pleasure
At the glories of the place;
Never had his brightest day-dream
Shone with half such wondrous grace.

"You were playing in that garden,
Throwing blossoms in the air,
Laughing when the petals floated
Downwards on your golden hair;
And the fond eyes watching o'er you,
And the splendour spread before you,
Told a House's Hope was there.

"When your servants, tired of seeing
Such a face of want and woe,
Turning to the ragged Orphan,

Gave him coin, and bade him gc, Down his cheeks so thin and wasted, Bitter tears began to flow.

But that look of childish sorrow On your tender child-heart fell, And you plucked the reddest roses From the tree you loved so well,

Passed them through the stern cold grating, Gently bidding him 'Farewell!"

"Dazzled by the fragrant treasure
And the gentle voice he heard,
In the poor forlorn boy's spirit,
Joy, the sleeping Seraph, stirred;
In his hand he took the flowers,
In his heart the loving word.

"So he crept to his poor garret :

Poor no more, but rich and bright, For the holy dreams of childhoodLove, and Rest, and Hope, and LightFloated round the Orphan's pillow

Through the starry summer night.

'Day dawned, yet the visions lasted;
All too weak to rise he lay;

Did he dream that none spake harshly-
All were strangely kind that day?

Surely then his treasured roses

Must have charmed all ills away.

"And he smiled, though they were fading; One by one their leaves were shed; 'Such bright things could never perish, They would bloom again,' he said. When the next day's sun had risen

Child and flowers both were dead.