Let this great maxim be my virtue's guide CHILDREN. Little children, not alone On the wide earth ye are known, MARY HOWITT. I have a son, a second son, a simple child of three; I'll not declare how bright and fair his little features be; His presence is like sunshine, sent to gladden home and hearth, To comfort us in all our griefs, and sweeten all our mirth. Should he grow up to riper years, God grant his heart may prove In part, she is to blame that has been tried; As sweet a home for heavenly grace, as now He comes too near that comes to be denied. MARY WORTLEY MONTAGUE. The woman that deliberates is lost. ADDISON. CHILDHOOD-CHILDREN. God keep thee, child, with thine angel brow, O childhood's innocence! The voice Yet sometimes sudden sights of grace, for earthly love: And if beside his grave, the tears our aching eyes must dim, God comfort us for all the love which we shall lose in him. JOHN MOULTRIE. Childhood, to thee I turn from life's alarms, There are smiles and tears in the mother's eyes, My child, even now I see thy tender breath Full quickly come and go At sound of praise. O may the touch of faith Early control, and tune thy heart too high So may that little spark of glory swell KEBLE. CHILDHOOD-CHILDREN. "Suffer these little ones to come to me," Was the command of Him who on the cross Bowed his anointed head, and with his blood Purchased redemption for our fallen race; And blessed they who to that holy task Devote the energies of their young years, Teaching, with pious care, the dawning light Of infant intellect to know the Lord. ANONYMOUS. Take care of the children;" nor wasted And found it the palate to please. Ah, what would the world be to us, For they are living poems, And all the rest are dead. WHITTIER. Heaven lies about us in our infancy. WORDSWORTH. A sweet new blossom of humanity, 49 O child! O new-born denizen A pale and feeble adumbration, LONGFELLOW. Who can forget, never to be forgot, The time that all the world in slumber lies, When like the stars the singing angels shot To earth, and heaven awaked all his eyes To see another sun at midnight rise On earth? Was never sight of pareil fame, For God before man like himself did frame, But God himself now like a mortal man became. The angels caroled loud their song of peace; The cursed oracles were stricken dumb; To see their Shepherd, the poor shepherds press; To see their King, the kingly sophics come; And then, to guide unto his Master's home, A star comes dancing up the orient, That springs for joy over the strawy tent; When gold to make their prince a crown they all present. GILES FLETCHER. See how small room my infant Lord doth take, Whom all the world is not enough to hold! Who of his years or of his age hath told? Never such age so young, never a child so old. GILES FLETCHER. Welcome! all wonders in one sight, Eternity shut in a span; Summer in winter, day in night, Heaven in earth, and God in man. Great Little One, whose all-embracing birth Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth. CRASHAW. There was joy in heaven! There was joy in heaven! When of love the midnight beam Dawned on the towers of Bethlehem; And along the echoing hill Angels sang, "On earth good-will, This is the month, and this the happy morn, But peaceful was the night His reign of peace upon the earth began; MILTON. Rise, happy morn! Rise, holy morn! That so thy blessed birth, O Christ, Wherefore from his throne exalted, Came He on this earth to dwell; All his pomp, an humble manger, All his court, a narrow cell? "From that world to bring to this, Peace, which of all earthly blisses Is the brightest, purest bliss. VIOLANTE DO CEO. At His birth a star, unseen before in heaven, Proclaims him come. |