Poems (Charlotte Allen)/Mother and Child

by Charlotte Allen

MOTHER AND CHILD.

Mother! who made that glorious sky,
And all those stars we see so high;
And the brilliant sun that shines so bright,
And the moon that gives such a mellowed light,
Can you tell me who made those beautiful things?
I would visit them all if I had wings.

The same, my child, who made you and me,
Formed all those lovely things you see;
'T is that Great Being who dwells above,
The God of mercy, the God of love.
His watchful eye is over us all,
And He marks even the sparrow's fall;
There 's not a thing we can say or do,
That ever escapes His holy view.

Did the same, dear Mother, who made the earth,
Give to all living things their birth?
Did He make all those lovely flowers,
And doth He command the rain when it showers?
Doth God create that gentle breeze,
Sporting unseen among the trees?
If He created all things that we see,
How good and how great that God must be.

Oh! yes, dear child, God made the whole,
And gave to each mortal frame, a soul;
And when we die, as truly we must,
And our bodies return to their kindred dust,
The soul will ascend to those mansions on high,
For the spirit 's immortal and never can die.
And oh, may it be thy constant care,
This important truth in thy mind to bear,
That brief is our stay in this earthly sphere,
And all is fleeting and transient here;
So place thy hopes above this earth,
In that better land of thy spirit's birth;
And when thy parting hour draws near,
May'st thou meet it firmly, without a fear;
For God, who caused all these things to be,
Will ever be present to watch over thee;
And when thy body is laid 'neath the sod,
Thy spirit, dear child, will be with its God.