Nor blush if o'er your heart be stealing
A love for things that have no feeling: 30
The spring's first rose by you espied,
May fill your breast with joyful pride;
And you may love the strawberry-flower,
And love the strawberry in its bower;
But when the fruit, so often praised 35
For beauty, to your lip is raised,
Say not you love the delicate treat,
But like it, enjoy it, and thankfully eat.
Long may you love your pensioner mouse,
Though one of a tribe that torment the house: 40
Nor dislike for her cruel sport the cat,
Deadly foe both of[759] mouse and rat;
Remember she follows the law of her kind,
And Instinct is neither wayward nor blind.
Then think of her beautiful gliding form, 45
Her tread that would scarcely[760] crush a worm,
And her soothing song by the winter fire,
Soft as the dying throb of the lyre.
I would not circumscribe your love:
It may soar with the eagle and brood with the dove, 50
May pierce the earth with the patient mole,
Or track the hedgehog to his hole.
Loving and liking are the solace of life,
Rock the cradle of joy, smooth the death-bed of strife.[761]
You love your father and your mother, 55
Your grown-up and your baby-brother;
You love your sister, and your friends,
And countless blessings which God sends:
And while these right affections play,
You live each moment of your day; 60
They lead you on to full content,
And likings fresh and innocent,
That store the mind, the memory feed,
And prompt to many a gentle deed:
But likings come, and pass away; 65
'Tis love that remains till our latest day:
Our heavenward guide is holy love,
And will[762] be our bliss with saints above.
FOOTNOTES:
[757] 1845.
In the former editions of the author's "Miscellaneous
Poems" are three pieces addressed to Children:—the following, a few lines excepted, is by the same Writer; and as it belongs to the same unassuming class of compositions, she has been prevailed upon to consent to its publication.
W. W. 1835.
By the author of the Poem, "Address to a child, during a boisterous winter evening."
W. W. 1836.
[758] 1845.