Classic Poem

In the morning of Life, when our feelings are new,
And our pathway is pleasant with sunshine and dew;
When many-toned music pervadeth the air,
And the commonest thing that we look on is fair, —
How sweet the first passion, that prompts us to stray
With one who adds beauty to beautiful May!
While a voice seems to steal through the shade of the bowers,
Singing — " Love is the odour of heavenly flowers! "

When wedded, and home groweth bright with the bride,
An angel to walk through the world by our side, —
When day after day we're enraptured to find
New graces of manner, new treasures of mind, —
Calm temper, clear foresight, disdain of all guile, —
For the mournful a tear, for the mirthful a smile, —
How deeply we feel, when such blessing is ours,
That " Love is the odour of heavenly flowers! "

And, ah! when the fond name of Father we hear,
From young lips and voices, all rosy and clear, —
When the multiplied charms of the Mother are seen
In the cherub-like feature, the infantile mien,
A fountain of joy, undiscovered before,
Opens up in the heart, and runs tenderly o'er,
While expand in the soul fresh affections and powers, —
Such " Love is the odour of heavenly flowers! "

Unto household and kindred, to friend and to man,
If we give all the love that we ought — that we can,
We lose not, we lack not; — such giving is gain,
As the earth gets her own exhalations in rain:
Kind words and good offices go to increase, —
Reverberate sweetly, and bless us with peace;
Let us foster the faith, in this rough world of ours,
That " Love is the odour of heavenly flowers! "