Richmond Enquirer

The following beautiful and touching lines, written by a lady of Rhode Island, in memory of an engaging child to whom the author was related, have never before been published. Their simplicity and tenderness, will recommend them to the taste and affections of the lovers of genuine poetry:

There is a flower to summer known,
Whose leaf will fade as soon as blown;
Yet, for the transient space it lives,
So rich a breath its blossom gives,
It seems embodying all the powers
Of fragrance rare, that other flowers
Have breathed throughout their longer prime,
In the brief moment of its time.

So bloomed our Arabella, here;
Scarce did the bud of life appear.
When lo, in childhood's opening hour
Death preyed upon that charming flower!
Yet like the aloe's short lived bloom,
Her soul exhaled such strong perfume,
That centered in her life appears
All that would bless and charm for years!

In all she did, or spoke, or sung,
A nameless spell about her hung,
An air so sweet, it seemed to tell
She was not long on earth to dwell.
Whether the joy devoid of guile,
Dimpled her mouth with pleasure's smile,
As the light frolic she pursued
That suits with childhood's happy mood;

Or when she tried each infant art
To wind about the parent's heart,
Would print her little lips and smile,
Full pleased with her successful wile;
Or when upon her bended knee,
From the blest lips of purity,
With folded hands and pious air,
She breathed to Heaven her holy prayer ;

Or when her gentle voice would raise,
In notes of love her Saviour's praise;
And soft this sacred lay would sing,
"Sweet is the work, my God, my King,"
In all a lovely spirit shone.
Too heavenly for the world to own!

Alas ! her tuneful, warbling breath
Is hushed, forever hushed in death;
And that still heart within the bier,
Can tell not e'en a parent's tear!
But faith will raise the streaming eye
To worlds where nought can ever die,
Where the young cherub waves her wings,
And her eternal anthem sings,

And waits the hour, when those who mourn,
Like her shall be to glory borne!