Page:Home; or, The unlost paradise (IA homeorunlostpara00palm).pdf/83

 The excrescences of nature and the faults That, left unheeded, must ere long become Deformities, of God and man abhorred.

As year on year fulfils its circling round, Thou, Edward, notest with a father's pride Thy Edith's maiden charms that ripen fast Toward fairest womanhood. Oft o'er thy heart Steals there a tranquil joy, a deep delight, As 'neath thy watchful eye that wearieth not, New dignity and grace her form invest; New beauty tints her cheek, new thoughtfulness Sits on her brow and lends her beaming eye A deeper meaning and a milder fire. Thou, Mary, on thy Alfred lov'st to fix With tenderness profound thy earnest gaze. God-given was he in place of thy first-born, That Christ desired and angels bore away! So doubly dear; and now that in his face Thou readest thoughtfulness, and seest revealed Reason's calm light, and wakened intellect,