"Thus I chose at first to paint thee—
Growing up toward thy teens;
No corruption near to taint thee
Passing through thy boyish scenes.
"Then I traced out all the labor
Which I would bestow on thee,
That thou mightest grow in favor
With the Lord, as well as me.
"Next I viewed thy mind expanding,
With the best of knowledge stored:
Light divine, and understanding
Gained from God's most holy Word.
"Years flew by; thou wert approaching
Very near to man's estate,
And, to those, around, wert broaching
Thy deep thoughts, with soul elate!
"Again I saw thee; thou wert coming
To the heights of world-wide fame;
My fears arose, I saw ills looming,
And bid thee guard thy spotless name.
"I looked again, and found thee wooing
Damsel modest, rich and fair;
And wicked men sought thy undoing,
Ere thou wert the least aware.
"But, thanks to God! He did preserve thee—
Gave thee, too, a lovely wife;
For duty this afresh did nerve thee,
Struggling with the ills of life.
"Again the vision passed before me,
But some years had fled away;
Thou hadst been sick, the Lord restored thee—
Children were around at play.
"I saw thy wife and thee were growing
In sweetest chaste conjugal love;
To things of God attention showing,
Fitting you for bliss above.
"The curtain drops: thy smiles recall me
To discharge my duties right;
Rich mercies I enjoy console me
For the loss of Vision bright."