The Waiting Child.
Reading edition
She lay, in childhood's sunny hour, The loving and the fair, A smitten bud, a drooping flower, For death was with her there. One only unfulfilled desire Oppress'd her heart with care: "Make smooth the ocean waves, dear Lord, And home my mother bear." Up rose that prayer, both night and day, Heaven heard the tender claim, The favour'd ship its haven found, The absent mother came; So then, like dove with folded wing. Enwrapp'd in calm content, A mother's kiss upon her lips, She to her Saviour went.