Page:The poems of Richard Watson Gilder, Gilder, 1908.djvu/383

Rh A child in nature, eager, gay,

And, yet, in all a woman's way

Wifely and motherly her day.

Curious, but constant; slow to wrath,

Yet nobly scornful; pride she hath

That sheds a splendor on her path.

She breathes a heaven-born sympathy;

For her there is no low nor high;

Goodness is honor in her eye:

So, in the throng, each separate one

Deems her glad welcome his alone,

As if some special grace were shown.

The great world, seeing her afar,

Claims her, and names her for a star;

But, among nearer watchers, are

Some who a sacred tale could tell

How those bright beams, ineffable,

On one great hero-spirit fell.

V

Shall we not praise the living?

Too soon the living pass

Like images on the unremembering glass,

Scarce even a breath's length! shall we not thanksgiving

Upraise, or e'er the everlasting sleep

Hath dulled the ear? that slumber deep

Whereof we know so little, however we may hope—

Mortals who see a closing door, and never see it ope.