Part 2 — THE MOTHER’S VIGIL.

A wakeful night with stealthy tread O’er weary day had crept, As near her dying infant’s bed A mother watched and wept. She saw the dews of death o’erspread That brow so white and fair, And bowing down her aching head, She breathed a fervent prayer: ‘O Thou,’ she cried, ‘a mother’s love Hast known—a mother’s grief— Bend down from starry heights above, And send my heart relief. Sweet lips that smiled are drawn in pain, Yet rest his life may keep, And give him to my arms again: Oh, let my baby sleep!’ When sickly dawn a gleam had cast Of light on night’s black pall, Through gates of heaven in mercy past An answer to her call. On sombre wings, through gloomy skies, Death’s angel darkly swept— He softly kissed those troubled eyes, And lo! the infant slept.