Lines to an Infant
A hearty welcome here to thee!
Be sorrow from thy breast exiled,
And all thy days from danger free:
May heaven its choicest blessings shower
Upon that little head of thine;
O'er thee may never tempests lower,
But summer suns eternal shine.
For thee may life its sweets disclose,
Bright be its evening as its morn;
Be every flower thou meet'st, a rose,
And every rose without a thorn.
Yes! every good betide thee, sweet!
Beyond the mind's imaginings:
Smile on ;—with joy those smiles I greet,
For oh! they speak a thousand things.
They speak of happy days to come,
And hopes that time shall ne'er destroy,
When thou shalt make a heaven of home,
And light thy parents' hearts with joy.
Welcome those smiles so bright and wild,
Prophetic of the bliss to be,
And welcome to thee, lovely child!
A hearty welcome here to thee.
May, 1827.