Poems (Hale)/The Worship of Childhood
THE WORSHIP OF CHILDHOOD.
THE SPONTANEOUS TRIBUTE OF A CHILD OF FOUR YEARS.
Morn broke in beauty on the eye, and tinged a glorious scene,
The broad o'erarching dome of heaven and fields of verdant green.
The smile of God was on His work, the beautiful and bright,
And earth gave back its radiant glow, as woke morn's dawning light.
The broad o'erarching dome of heaven and fields of verdant green.
The smile of God was on His work, the beautiful and bright,
And earth gave back its radiant glow, as woke morn's dawning light.
Nature in matchless beauty bowed before her Maker's shrine,
And, vocal with her myriad tones, adored His hand divine.
His love lit up her sunny brow, and woke her kindling smile,
And to her breath its perfume gave, man's spirit to beguile.
And, vocal with her myriad tones, adored His hand divine.
His love lit up her sunny brow, and woke her kindling smile,
And to her breath its perfume gave, man's spirit to beguile.
From whispering bough, and murmuring brook, and feathered minstrels' lays,
Arose the mingling sacrifice, the choral song of praise.
As though an angel's wing had drooped in grace and glory there,
Went up from His mute worshipers the "still small" breath of prayer.
Arose the mingling sacrifice, the choral song of praise.
As though an angel's wing had drooped in grace and glory there,
Went up from His mute worshipers the "still small" breath of prayer.
While swelled the adoring anthem forth from mountain and from plain,
A noble boy the music caught, and raised his tuneful strain.
While with his infant voice he spread his Maker's praise abroad,
He gently whispered in our ear, "I sang that song for God."
A noble boy the music caught, and raised his tuneful strain.
While with his infant voice he spread his Maker's praise abroad,
He gently whispered in our ear, "I sang that song for God."
Thou blessed one! upon whose brow life's dew-drops still are bright,
Homage like that ascends to God, accepted in His sight.
Richer than minstrel's melody, or organ's pealing tone,
The heart's deep adoration swells to His celestial throne.
Homage like that ascends to God, accepted in His sight.
Richer than minstrel's melody, or organ's pealing tone,
The heart's deep adoration swells to His celestial throne.
When manhood's sterner seal is set upon that infant brow,
Still be thy spirit's homage poured, as pure, as fresh as now:
The hand of God be on thy head, His smile illume the way
Which leads His fervent worshiper to heaven's unclouded day.
Still be thy spirit's homage poured, as pure, as fresh as now:
The hand of God be on thy head, His smile illume the way
Which leads His fervent worshiper to heaven's unclouded day.