From the damp earth in his lone cell It sprung to life, sad life awhile, But there, alas! it could not dwell, No sunshine shed its cheering smile. ’Twas tended well mid hope and fear, And watched with all a parent’s care, Yea, watered daily with a tear, But could not stay in darkness there. So in this cot that idiot boy Was like that leaf to captive sad, His guileless ways, and childish joy, Oft made the broken-hearted glad. Beside him she on earth had nought, For him all labor, love and prayer, And he no other playmates sought, Save birds and flowers, sunlight and air. Speech was denied him, and not one Save she who gave him birth alone His uncouth gestures e’er could read, Or learn his sorrows, joy or need, And as, amid the quiet sleep Of summer noon, a storm will sweep In sudden wrath, and blackness cast O’er skies serene a moment past; So in the spirit of this child Dark passion, fitful, quick and wild, Such inward storm would sometimes wake, Naught but her gaze its power could break; Her words could bid its fury cease, The _mother’s voice_ could whisper peace. Not often thus, but the long hours Of summer day mid birds and flowers He’d cheerful spend, or watch the spray Of dashing waves in their wild play. And this, indeed, his chief delight, When airs were bland and skies were bright. So fixed his gaze, you wondered why, A child should look so earnestly. It seemed as if he longed to be A wave amid those waters free. His thoughts we know not, but perchance Some spirit dream was in that glance! Such as when reason leaves her throne And fancy reigns supreme alone, Will lead the helpless captive on To deeds we fear to think upon. Some thought as strange, some wish as wild, We deem possessed this idiot child. One day he climbed the pathway, where The rocky bridge seemed hung in air; Awhile he looked with strange delight On sparkling wave and rainbow bright; Then, with a scream so wild and shrill It made the distant hearer thrill, He plunged amid those waves and foam, Like Naiade seeking its lost home. A moment, and it all was o’er— He sunk, to rise with life no more. A schoolboy saw but could not save The idiot from his watery grave.