I feel from day to day In seeing thee So full of lively play-- Most sweet to see.

By such most lovely smiles, Such crowing, too, Ah, Fred, thy many wiles Have charmed me through!

'Tis true _Ma_ lost much rest, By day and night, Through thee when so distressed.

Which scarce seemed right.

But doubtless 'twill be seen To be for good, Since G.o.d our Friend has been, And by us stood.

Then, with this full in view I 'll close my rhyme, And hope that it may do Thee good some time.

TO MY DAUGHTER IDA, WHEN THREE MONTHS OLD.

1859.

Ida, it is a burning shame That thy short, sweet poetic name Has not a single lay called forth From my _cranium_ since thy birth!

Thy pale-face, brown-eyed style of beauty Every day points out my duty.

Conscience, too, whispers 'tis not right That I this task should longer slight.

So now I take thee on my knee And woo the Muse right eagerly, In earnest hope she'll lend her aid Until this tribute be well paid.

Ida, thou art of babes the best; This much at least must be confessed, Unless thy mother's words are wrong-- Words shadowing forth Affection strong.

Thou art indeed, sweet tempered pet, As good a child as I have met.

And oh, my heart for thee' has bled, When thou wert forced to be spoon-fed, Because of Mamma's trying weakness.

Yet this thou didst still bear with meekness, And ever from the first thy cries Had for companions tearful eyes, And such a mournful, piteous mien As is not in bad temper seen.

When I saw this thou may'st be sure, I felt quite ready to endure Thy tediousness by night or day, While mother on a sick-bed lay.

Now, as reward for all my toil, Thou cheerest me by many a smile.

And while I gaze on thy sweet face Bedecked with every infant grace, My soul's best feelings are called Forth-- I see in thee increasing worth.

Say, sweetly smiling, pretty creature, So perfect in each limb and feature, What means that dreamy sort of look Thou wear'st at times? Art thou then struck With wonder at our household ways?

At brother's, sister's childish plays?

I would give something just to know How thoughts within the mind can grow.

I fancy sometimes thou art thinking On what's around thee or else drinking Thou fill of heavenly visions sweet, Such as would prove to me a treat: Art silent still? Ah, then, young Miss, Thou must eve'n give a parting kiss!

Farewell, my dear, my lovely child, Fair Ida, with the look so mild!

TO MY WIFE, ON THE THIRTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR WEDDING DAY

SEPT. 26, 1860.

A thousand joys, my darling wife, Be thine on this our marriage day!

And now I'll sing; for such a life As we have led deserves a lay Fresh-gushing from a heart like mine-- By thee well known to be sincere.

O, where are charms compared with thine?

Which, after years of toil appear More fresh and fair, Though much of care Has fallen daily to thy share.

On me old Time has marked his flight-- My outward frame doth tell me this; But still, sweet dove, my heart's as light As when at first I found the bliss Of Ellen's love in silken bands.

And what the future has in store I know not, but my soul expands a.s.sured thou lov'st me more and more.

This rapturous thought With blessings fraught By gold could never have been bought.

But love--such love as we now feel Ten thousand ills can face and foil, And pa.s.sing years afresh reveal-- We better are for cure and toil!

I would not then my lot exchange For one where pampered luxury The hearts of man and wife estrange, And all is insincerity.

A lot like this, Devoid of bliss, Dear wife, may we forever miss!

What though when let but forty-three I sober _Grandpa_ have become?

With thee, my Ellen, yes, with thee I can enjoy our humble home; And the dear children to us given, With those left by my first loved spouse, Can by G.o.d's blessing make a heaven For me in yet a poorer house!

The world dreams not That in our cot We pure, substantial joys have got.

As thus I sing in gladsome strain Of my unmatched felicity, There comes an almost endless train From the deep founts of Memory, Of pleasing pictures which retain Poetic colors lich and rare.

Yet fearing they might make me vain, I breathe to G.o.d this fervent prayer: Lord, shield me well, From potent spell Of syren Pleasures, and Pride quell!

Oh, let us humbly now renew Our vows to G.o.d, my sweetest love!

He then will shed His grace like dew Upon us all, and bid the Dove Of steadfast Peace a.s.sure our souls.

Thus may we battle on in life, And as each season forward rolls Feel stronger for the daily strife Until at last Our lot is cast With those who into heaven have pa.s.sed.

TO THE SAME, ON THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR MARRIAGE.

SEPTEMBER 26, 1872.

Dear Bride of five-and-twenty years, I gladly give to thee this song.

That thou wilt spurn it I've no fears, For love still reigns within thee strong, And will reign long as life shall last; For it has stood the fiery test Of anguished moments in the past-- When out of pain came peaceful rest, Until our life Of toil and strife Is joyful still, my darling wife.

When last I penned a lay to thee I little dreamt that youthful charms Would cling to thee at forty-three; But now the thought my spirit warms _That I can see thee lovelier grown_!

While fond affection constant beams Within thy lovely eyes, light brown, Thus realizing my young dreams.

For then I thought The wife I sought Should bring to me what thou hast brought.

A face lit up with genial smiles, A heart to love through trials great, With winning ways, with pleasant wiles, To cheer me in life's troublous state.

I pictured her both fair and neat, With voice so soft, with wifely skill, To make my home a snug retreat From many kinds of mortal ill.

_Such hast thou been_, My own heart's queen, As good a wife as e'er was seen.

What though we've not attained to wealth?

Have still to toil for daily bread?

So long as G.o.d gives precious health, We have no worldly needs to dread,

For, day by day our table's filled, Our dearest children constant fed; With many comforts life to gild, Our years enjoyably have sped.

Then we'll not care For larger share Of riches, which oft prove a snare.

Then, darling, let us battle on, The future may ev'n brighter prove; But if it does not we have won A glorious boon in such true love As well might smooth a harder life.

And few, I trow, have lived so long wedded state with joys so rife.

Then fear not, let our hearts be strong In Christ our Lord, And let His Word Yield us the comfort therein stored.

Now, as the ears flow swiftly by, With crosses manifold to hear, We still will look to Him on high, Who has permitted us to share So much of matrimonial bliss, And in that bond has kept us true.

Let's deem it best His rod to kiss, And keep His promises in view.

So, side by side Our lives may glide Till death bring us o'er Jordan's tide!

TO THE SAME, ON THE THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR MARRIAGE.

SEPTEMBER 26, 1877.