Its gather'd film
Kindled one moment, with a sudden glow
Of tearless agony,—and fearful pangs
Racking the rigid features, told how strong
A mother's love doth root itself. One cry
Of bitter anguish, blent with fervent prayer
Went up to Heaven,—and as its cadence sank,
Her spirit enter'd there.
Morn after morn
Rose and retir'd,—yet still as in a dream
I seem'd to move. The certainty of loss
Fell not at once upon me. Then I wept
As weep the sisterless. For thou wert fled
My only, my belov'd,—my sainted one,
Twin of my spirit! and my number'd days
Must wear the sable of that midnight hour
Which rent thee from me.
DEATH OF A WIFE DURING THE ABSENCE OF HER HUSBAND.
The Man of God, from distant toil
To his sweet home drew nigh,
And kindling expectation rose
With brightness to his eye,—
But She, the sharer of his joy,
The solace of his care,—
Whose smile of welcome, woke his soul
To rapture, was not there.
