To a Mirror a Century Old [pp. 269-272]

To a Mirror a Century Old.
The eldest of that youthful band
In snowy robes arrayed,
With beating heart and trembling hand,
Her marriage promise made.
"A tender joy sat on her brow
As back her veil she wavedTurned from the crowd, and bending low,
Her mother's blessing craved.
On the fair head her hand she ]aid,
Pressed on the brow a kiss,
As from her inmost soul she prayed
That God her child would bless.
"There came a time when that strong arm,
That, through life's checkered way,
Her shield had been from many a storm,
And, next to God her stay,
While anguish rested on the brow,
In helpless weakness lay:Her fervent prayers she murmured low,
And watched him day by day.
"In vain those prayers and watchings now Death hastes his seat to place
On the strong arm, the noble brow,
And form of manly grace.
Her heart is sad and lonely now,
Lost is her earthly stay,
Onward, with lingering steps and slow,
She goes her darkened way.
"Her darling boy went o'er the sea,
No more his steps return;
A wave his winding sheet must be,
A coral reef his urn.
No more she hopes to see her child, While waves his tresses part,
A mournful dirge the tempest wild
Sings to her widowed heart.
"Each year, each sorrow, and each care
Some youthful beauty steals,
With silver streaks her dark brown hair,
Her blooming roses pales.
Of all that radiant beauty fair
But shadows now remain;
But faded cheek, nor silvered hair
Could make that face look plain.
1859.]
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