Poems (Gould, 1833)/Echo

by Hannah Flagg Gould

For works with similar titles, see Echo.

ECHO.

'Father! father! come with me
 Down among the rocks!
Softly! for I long to see
 Who it is that mocks.
When I laugh, or sing, or call,
 Some one there repeats it all.'

'Ah! my child, thou dost not know
 All that 's dear and true,
In this world of noise and show,
 Has its semblance too.
E'en a sound with joy in it
 Will draw forth its counterfeit.

' 'Mid the dissonance of earth
 We so oft must hear,
Sweet the voice of infant mirth
 Falls upon the ear.
Mingled innocence and joy!
 Blessed harmony, my boy.

'And, in heartless mockery,
 Echo now has caught
Tones of gladness sent from thee;
 While herself is naught
But the shadow of a sound,
 Thrown from rocks and hills around.

'Be thou cautioned from to-day;
 For thou yet must meet,
Here and there on life's rude way,
 Many a fair deceit.
No illusion seek to trace
 To her seeming dwelling place.

'Here, while snares and pit-falls lie
 Round on every part,
One is calling from on high,
 "Son, give me thy heart!"
He will ne'er deceive nor mock,
 Fly to Him, the Living Rock!'