Elizabeth Oakes Smith

The Sinless Child, and Other Poems Elizabeth Oakes Smith

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1843 edition. Excerpt: ... THE SINLESS CHILD. INSCRIPTION. Sweet Eva! shall I send thee forth, To other hearts to speak? With all thy timidness and love, Companionship to seek? Send thee with all thy abstract ways, Thy more than earthly tone--An exile, dearest, send thee forth, Thou, who art all mine own! Thou art my spirit's cherished dream, Its pure ideal birth; And thou hast nestled in my heart, With love that's not of earth. Alas! for I have failed, methinks, Thy mystic life to trace; Thy holiness of thought and soul, Thy wild enchanting grace. With thee I've wandered, cherished one, At twilight's dreamy hour To learn the language of the bird, The mystery of the flower; And gloomy must that sorrow be, Which thou could'st not dispel, As thoughtfully we loitered on By stream or sheltered dell. Thou fond Ideal! vital made, The trusting, earnest, true; Who fostered, sacred, undefiled My hearts pure, youthful dew; Thou woman--soul, all tender, meek, Thou wilt not leave me now To bear alone the weary thoughts That stamp an aching brow! Yet go! I may not say farewell, For thou wilt not forsake, Thou'lt linger, Eva, wilt thou not, All hallowed thoughts to wake? Then go; and speak to kindred hearts In purity and truth; And win the spirit back again, To Love, and Peace, and Youth. PART I. Eva, a simple cottage maiden, given to the world in the widowhood of one parent, and the angelic existence of the other, like a bud developed amid the sad sweet sunshine of autumn, when its sister-flowers are all sleeping, is found from her birth to be as meek and gentle as are those pale flowers that look imploringly upon us, blooming as they do apart from the season destined for their existence, and when those that should hold tender companionship with them have ceased to be. She is gifted...