Poems (Dodd)/To Willie
TO WILLIE."Is thy face like thy mother's."
O, pleasant are the places Where childhood's voice is heard,And joyous are the echoes By childhood's laughter stirred.
And cheerful is the mansion Where gay young hearts are found,And joyful is the cottage Where children frolic round.
Blessed are little children, And ever where they move,Around them is the fragrance Of innocence and love.
We watch their fairy footsteps, Their glances glad and bright,And list their broken accents, With feelings of delight.
There are no children round me; I sing my song to day,For a bright boy who dwelleth An hundred miles away.
I ne'er have seen thee, Willie, And fancy vainly tries,To give thy form and features, And color of thine eyes.
But O, my heart is open, Thine image there to take;For thy sweet name I love thee, And for thy mother's sake.
And art thou like thy mother? Hast thou her sunny face?Can those who fondly loved her, In thine her features trace?
Dear child, thy fair young mother, Early to death did bow;But from her place in heaven, She watcheth o'er thee now.
Thou knowest not this sorrow, And we will not repine;But rather joy, in thinking A charméd life is thine.
Charmed from all sin and evil, Thy way must ever be,For a pure, white robed angel, Is always guarding thee.
Thou art not near me, Willie, But I seem to see thee now,With the likeness of thy mother, Stamped on thine open brow.
Thy father gazes on thee, Through eyes with sadness dim,Then to his heart he folds thee, For thou art all to him.
He sighs for one departed, Gone in her summer years;The loved and happy hearted, The mourned with many tears.
Through the long day he thinketh; Though care upon him press;How he shall come at evening, And meet thy dear caress.
How he shall part thy tresses, And list thy lisping tone,And press thy lip of velvet So softly to his own.
Thy toys are all deserted, When his quick step draws nigh,He hears thee murmur "father!" Then to his fond arms fly.
O, Willie! to thy father, How very dear thou art!Long may God spare thee to him, Thou treasure of his heart!
Farewell, now, little Willie; My kiss and blessing take;For thy sweet name I love thee, And for thy mother's sake.