Page:Poems of Sentiment and Imagination.djvu/147

Rh Azlea. (Sings.)

Rest thee now, weary one, soft is thy pillow;

Rest thee, and dream of thy dear distant home;

Dream of the hearts that far over the billow

Still love you, and bless you wherever you roam.

Dream of thy mother, whose prayers ever arise

At morning, at noon, and at evening for thee;

Rest thee, and dream of her—richer the prize

Of a mother's warm blessing than wealth of the sea.

Dream of the sister whose tender caresses

Clung to thy form in her weeping farewell;

Dream of your meeting, your joyful embraces,

And the stories of love each shall hasten to tell.

Dream of thy home, of its dear youthful pleasures,

Of the sports of the field, of the river and wood—

Thy heart shall remember all these with its pleasures,

And mem'ries rush over thy soul in a flood.

Rest thee then, weary one, soft is thy pillow;

Rest thee and dream of the land of thy love;

Absence, nor distance, nor rude rolling billow,

To soul meeting soul shall a barrier prove.

Enter.

Her. Heaven's blessings on thee, Azlea, sweet child!

Thou hast a suff'rer under thy kind care,

Who I perceive is sleeping. I was sent

By a poor fisherman of the coast, to him,

That should he wish confession of his sins

He might have holy comfort and advice.

Azlea. The stranger, holy father, is now lying

In quiet, natural sleep, that will restore

His former health to him; except some cuts