Classic Poem

Welcome, welcome, little cousins,
To this world of ours!
Welcome, though ye came in dozens,
Buds of human flowers!

Fragrant from the hills eternal,
Earthly airs ye taste;
Making earth a garden vernal,
Otherwise a waste.

Wrapped within the folds of beauty
Of your bodies fair,
Lie the germs of love and duty, —
Germs of joy and care.

Hid beneath the lovely lashes
Of those lustrous eyes,
Kindling with increasing flashes,
Fire immortal lies.

Welcome are ye, little strangers!
Yet ye soon shall know
Earth has many snares and dangers, —
Many cups of woe.

Should the loving angels keeping
Watch around your bed,
Give you sweeter, sounder sleeping,
Such as sleep the dead, —

Happier thus than left to grope in
Sinful world like ours;
Human buds the sweetest open
In immortal bowers.

Infant souls in Christ are grafted,
When by death assailed;
Breath of flowers to heaven is wafted, —
Morning dew exhaled.

But if for our sakes remaining
On the shores of time,
Be ye ever upward training
For the better clime!

May the children-loving Saviour
Hold you in his arms,
And adorn your life-behavior
With celestial charms.

Stirring times now great your coming;
Wheels of busy earth,
Whirling round with constant humming,
Hail with joy your birth.

Hands and hearts, and noble daring,
Souls of truth we need,
In this age of ages, bearing
Final harvest-seed.

Welcome, therefore, little cousins!
Not with pleasure small;
Were ye twice ten scores of dozens,
Welcome to you all!