“Must prove all human knowledge A burden, a deceit; And many a flattering friendship find A dark and hollow cheat. “Well may’st thou weep, fond mother;-- For what can life bequeath, But tears and sighs unnumbered, But watching, change, and death!” SECOND VOICE. “Rejoice, rejoice, fond mother, Thou hast given birth, To this immortal being, To this sweet child of earth! “The pearl within the ocean, The gold within the mine, Have not a thousandth part the worth Of this fair child of thine! “Oh fond and anxious mother, Look up with joyful eyes, For a boundless wealth of love and power In that young spirit lies! “Love to enfold all natures In one benign embrace; Power to diffuse a blessing wide O’er all the human race! “Bless God both night and morning; Be thine a joyful heart; For the child of mortal parents hath With the Eternal part. “The stars shall dim their brightness; And as a parched scroll The earth shall fade, but ne’er shall fade The undying human soul! “Oh then rejoice fond mother, That thou hast given birth To this immortal being, To this fair child of earth?” A LIFE’S SORROW. AN OLD MAN’S NARRATIVE. My life hath had its curse; and I will tell To you its dark and troubled history. Brethren you are; oh then as brethren dwell, Linked soul to soul in blessed unity; Like the rejoicing branches of a tree, All braving storm, all sharing sunny weather, All putting on their leaves, and withering all together. I had a brother. As a spring of joy Was he unto the gladness of my youth; And in our guileless confidence, each boy, Vowed a sweet vow of everlasting truth, All sympathetic love, all generous ruth; Alas! that years the noble heart should tame, And the boy’s virtue put the man to shame! I was the elder; and as years passed on Men paid invidious homage to the heir; And pride, which was the sin of angels, won Our human hearts; their guilt I will not spare; If I was proud, the boy began to wear A lip of scorn, and paid me back my pride, With arrowy wit that wounded and defied. Still he was dear to me, and I would gaze With yearning heart upon him as he went Past me in silent pride, and inly praised His godlike form, and the fair lineament Of his fine countenance, as eloquent As if it breathed forth music; and his voice Oh how its tones could soften and rejoice! Strange was it, that a brother, thus my pride, Grew to my friendship so estranged and cold; Strange was it, that kind spirits erst allied By kindred fellowship, so proved of old, Were sundered and to separate interests sold! I know not how it was! but pride was strong In either breast, and did the other wrong.