Sleep, little Baby! sleep!
  Not in thy cradle bed,
Not on thy mother's breast
Henceforth shall be thy rest,
  But with the quiet dead.

Yes, with the quiet dead,
  Baby ! thy rest shall be -- 
Oh ! many a weary wight,
Weary of life and light,
  Would fain lie down with thee !

Flee, little tender nursling !
  Flee to thy grassy nest --  
There the first flowers shall blow,
The first pure flake of snow
  Shall fall upon thy breast.

Peace ! peace ! the little bosom
  Labours with shortening breath. 
Peace ! peace ! that tremulous sigh 
Speaks his departure nigh -- 
  Those are the damps of Death.

I've seen thee in thy beauty,
  A thing all health and glee ;
But never then, wert thou
So beautiful, as now,
  Baby ! thou seem'st to me.

Thine upturn'd eyes glazed over
  Like harebells wet with dew -- 
Already veil'd and hid
By the convulsed lid,
  Their pupils darkly blue.

Thy little mouth half open,
  The soft lip quivering, 
As if, like summer air, 
Ruffling the rose leaves, there
  Thy soul were fluttering.

Mount up, immortal essence !
  Young spirit! hence -- depart! 
And is this Death ? Dread thing !
If such thy visiting,
  How beautiful thou art!

Oh ! I could gaze for ever
  Upon that waxen face, 
So passionless ! so pure ! 
The little shrine was sure
  An angel's dwelling-place.

Thou weepest, childless mother !
  Ay, weep -- 'twill ease thine heart;
He was thy first-born son -- 
Thy first, thine only one ;
  'Tis hard from him to part.

'Tis hard to lay thy darling
  Deep in the damp cold earth,
His empty crib to see,
His silent nursery,
  Late ringing with his mirth.

To meet again in slumber
  His small mouth's rosy kiss,
Then -- waken'd with a start
By thine own throbbing heart -- 
  His twining arms to miss.

And then to lie and weep,
  And think the livelong night
(Feeding thine own distress
With accurate greediness)
  Of every past delight.

Of all his winning ways,
  His pretty, playful smiles,
His joy at sight of thee,
His tricks, his mimickry,
  And all his little wiles.

Oh ! these are recollections
  Round mothers' hearts that cling !
That mingle with the tears
And smiles of after years,
  With oft awakening.

But thou wilt then, fond mother,
  In after years, look back
(Time brings such wondrous easing)
With sadness not unpleasing,
  Even on this gloomy track.

Thou'lt say, "My first-born blessing!
  It almost broke my heart,
When thou wert forced to go,
And yet for thee, I know
  'Twas better to depart.

"God took thee in his mercy,
  A lamb untask'd -- untried -- 
He fought the field for thee -- 
He won the victory -- 
  And thou art sanctified.

"I look around, and see 
  The evil ways of men,
And oh, beloved child !
I'm more than reconciled
  To thy departure then.

"The little arms that clasp'd me,
  The innocent lips that prest,
Would they have been as pure
Till now, as when of yore
  I lull'd thee on my breast ?

"Now, like a dewdrop shrined 
  Within a crystal stone,
Thou'rt safe in heaven, my dove !
Safe with the Source of love,
  The everlasting One!

"And when the hour arrives,
  From flesh that sets me free,
Thy spirit may await 
The first at heaven's gate,
  To meet and welcome me."