Kings and Queens of England with Other Poems — Life's Changes
LIFE'S CHANGES.
A fair young girl was to the altar led By him she loved, the chosen of her heart;
And words of solemn import there were said, And mutual vows were pledged till death should part.
But life was young, and death a great way off, At least it seemed so then, on that bright morn;
And they no doubt, expected years of bliss, And in their path the rose without a thorn.
Cherished from infancy with tenderest care, A precious only daughter was the bride;
And when that young protector's arm she took, She for the first time left her parents' side.
With all a woman's tender, trustful heart, She gave herself away to him she loved;
Why should she not, was he not all her own, A choice by friends and parents too approved?
How rapidly with him the days now fly, With _him_ the partner of her future life;
Happy and joyous as a child she'd been, Happy as daughter, _happier still as wife_.
But ere eight months in quick succession passed, One to each human heart a dreaded foe, Entered her house, and by a single stroke, Blasted her hopes, and laid her idol low.
Three months of bitter anguish was endured, But hope again revived, and she was blest, When pressing to her heart a darling child, Whose little head she pillowed on her breast.
Not long is she permitted to enjoy, This sweetest bud of promise to her given;
Short as an angel's visit was its stay, When God, who gave it, took it up to heaven.
Ah, what a contrast one short year presents!
Replete with happiness--replete with woe;
In that brief space, a maiden called, and wife, Widow and mother written--childless too.
Surely my friend, I need not say to thee, Look not to earth for what it can't bestow;
'Tis at the best a frail and brittle reed, Which trusting for support, will pierce thee through.
Then let us look above this fleeting earth, To heaven and heavenly joys direct our eyes;
No lasting happiness this world affords-- "He builds too low who builds below the skies."
Weston, Dec.
1, 1852. LINES.
