Grown, stalwart boys and buxome girls we all are And fain would bring renown to thy dear name-- Pride to thy heart, and comfort to thy leisure By some good noble deeds, and worthy fame, Alas, how short we've come! When thou complaisant Looked on expectant for some virtuous act, How Self appeared like some fierce tigress couchant, And we with evil motive seemed impact! And thou art gone! Well do I remember Our childhood's days again--I'd live them o'er-- When chilly blasts of sleeting, bleak December Kept us, long ev'nings, close within the door, We stories begged and then some Bible tale-- Of David's valor, or Saul's treachery Of Moses meekness or Methus'lah hale-- Of Abraham's faith or Esau's jealousy. Of Enoch's constancy in serving God, Of Joseph, sold a slave; of Egypt's kings, Of Pharaoh's plagues, and Moses' wond'rous rod, And of the Psalms which ev'ry Christian sings, Of John the Baptist, Christ the living Word Which was made flesh, and came and dwelt with men, Who was, and is, and shall be, God the Lord; Of His disciples, Holy ones, and then The Revelation, and the last Great Day, Each in its turn, in loving tones, was given And thus our mother thought to point the way With truthful finger, to the gates of Heaven; The great "Old Bible" then across her knee Was tender laid,--I see her sparkling eye,-- With trem'lous voice she read the "Verily" And hushed, we listen'd, 'till no eye was dry. Then, kneeling, when the Word had well been read In very confidence she talked with God, And then with happy tears we went to bed, Now Mother lies beneath the silent sod! And thus, when father was away at toil In fact'ry's buzz, his cherished ones to keep, Giving his strength for them, in hot turmoil, We, his dear ones, were wrapped in blissful sleep. But she is gone! we've laid her down to rest In a soft bed of satin, white and pure We spread her o'er white rose buds on her breast, And bade her soul, waft to the better shore! Where mansions fair unnumbered stand prepared For her and hers--her Lord had told her so His Fathers house, to her he said, was shared By those who loved as she had loved below.