Love and the Child

Love came into the world, and said:"With the tender infant on this bedShall be my home; I will impartThe winning graces to its heartThat blessing in each pathway spread."

So—for Love crooned its lullabies—His own smile dawned within its eyes,And into its small being stoleThe laughing radiance of his soul,And all its eager sympathies.

Unconscious as the flowers that bless—A tiny flame of lovingness—To any palm it gave at onceA dimpled hand, in quick response,Nor what "a stranger" meant might guess.

That to distrust is often well,It heard with smile ineffable.Then, on a morn, Love came to say:"Thou child of mine, come, come away,In Paradise to dwell!"