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Poem
February 1, 1840
The Congregationalist
Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
A grieving daughter requests her father's portrait of her deceased mother as a wedding gift before his remarriage, expressing sorrow over losing her mother's memory amid the family's new joy.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
THE DAUGHTER'S REQUEST.
BY MRS. ABDY.
My father, thou hast not the tale denied.
They say that, ere noon to-morrow,
Thou wilt bring back a radiant and smiling bride
To our lonely house of sorrow.
I should wish thee joy of thy coming bliss,
But tears are my words suppressing
I think on my mother's dying kiss,
And my mother's parting blessing.
Yet to-morrow I hope to hide my care,
I will still my bosom's beating,
And strive to give thy chosen fair
A kind and courteous greeting.
She will heed me not. in the joyous pride.
Of her pomp, and friends, and beauty;
Ah ! little need has a new made bride
Of a daughter's quiet duty.
Thou gavest her costly gems, they say,
When thy heart first fondly sought her:
Dear father, one nuptial gift, I pray,
Bestow on thy weeping daughter.
My eye, even now on the treasure falls,
I covet it and ask no other,
It has hung for years on our ancient walls—
'Tis the portrait of my mother!
To-morrow, when all is in festal guise,
And the guests our rooms are filling
The calm meek gaze of those hazel eyes
Might thy soul with grief be thrilling
And a gloom on thy marriage banquet cast,
Sad thoughts of their owner. giving,
For a fleeting twelve-month scarce has past,
Since she mingled with the living.
If thy bride should weary or offend,
That portrait might waken feelings
Of the love of thy fond departed friend,
And its sweet and kind revealings ;
Of her mind's commanding force, unchecked
By feeble or selfish weakness,
Of her speech, where dazzling intellect
Was softened by Christian meekness.
Then, father grant that at once to night,
Ere the bridal crowd's intrusion,
I remove this portrait from thy sight
To my chamber's still seclusion:
It will nerve me to-morrow's dawn to bear,
It will beam on my protection.
When I ask of Heaven in my faltering prayer,
To hallow thy new connection.
Thou wilt waken, father, in pride and glee,
To renew the ties once broken,
But nought on earth remains to me
- Save this sad and silent token.
The husband's tears may be few and brief,
He may woo and win another;
But the daughter clings in unchanging grief
To the image of her mother !
THE DAUGHTER'S REQUEST.
BY MRS. ABDY.
My father, thou hast not the tale denied.
They say that, ere noon to-morrow,
Thou wilt bring back a radiant and smiling bride
To our lonely house of sorrow.
I should wish thee joy of thy coming bliss,
But tears are my words suppressing
I think on my mother's dying kiss,
And my mother's parting blessing.
Yet to-morrow I hope to hide my care,
I will still my bosom's beating,
And strive to give thy chosen fair
A kind and courteous greeting.
She will heed me not. in the joyous pride.
Of her pomp, and friends, and beauty;
Ah ! little need has a new made bride
Of a daughter's quiet duty.
Thou gavest her costly gems, they say,
When thy heart first fondly sought her:
Dear father, one nuptial gift, I pray,
Bestow on thy weeping daughter.
My eye, even now on the treasure falls,
I covet it and ask no other,
It has hung for years on our ancient walls—
'Tis the portrait of my mother!
To-morrow, when all is in festal guise,
And the guests our rooms are filling
The calm meek gaze of those hazel eyes
Might thy soul with grief be thrilling
And a gloom on thy marriage banquet cast,
Sad thoughts of their owner. giving,
For a fleeting twelve-month scarce has past,
Since she mingled with the living.
If thy bride should weary or offend,
That portrait might waken feelings
Of the love of thy fond departed friend,
And its sweet and kind revealings ;
Of her mind's commanding force, unchecked
By feeble or selfish weakness,
Of her speech, where dazzling intellect
Was softened by Christian meekness.
Then, father grant that at once to night,
Ere the bridal crowd's intrusion,
I remove this portrait from thy sight
To my chamber's still seclusion:
It will nerve me to-morrow's dawn to bear,
It will beam on my protection.
When I ask of Heaven in my faltering prayer,
To hallow thy new connection.
Thou wilt waken, father, in pride and glee,
To renew the ties once broken,
But nought on earth remains to me
- Save this sad and silent token.
The husband's tears may be few and brief,
He may woo and win another;
But the daughter clings in unchanging grief
To the image of her mother !
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Verse Letter
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Marriage Celebration
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Daughters Request
Mothers Portrait
Father Remarriage
Family Grief
Mourning Mother
Wedding Gift
Deceased Parent
What entities or persons were involved?
By Mrs. Abdy
Poem Details
Title
The Daughter's Request
Author
By Mrs. Abdy
Subject
Daughter's Plea For Mother's Portrait Before Father's Remarriage
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
Dear Father, One Nuptial Gift, I Pray,
Bestow On Thy Weeping Daughter.
My Eye, Even Now On The Treasure Falls,
I Covet It And Ask No Other,
It Has Hung For Years On Our Ancient Walls—
'Tis The Portrait Of My Mother!
The Husband's Tears May Be Few And Brief,
He May Woo And Win Another;
But The Daughter Clings In Unchanging Grief
To The Image Of Her Mother !