Chapter II

"Only your hired boy! yet nurtured in wealth,
Gifted of beauty, and glowing with health.

"Sunned in the rays of an era sublime,
Lulled in the lap of a Christian clime.

"Suddenly fatherless, suddenly poor;
Brave mother-hands keeping want from the door.

"Oh! how the widowed heart clung to that child,
Her one bright star on the darkening wild.

"Welded in sorrow, bereavement and pain;
Time nor eternity severeth twain.

"Hard for new toilers, though strong be the will;
Weary the way up the steep, rugged hill.

"Friendship in fortune is hollow at best;
Sunset of splendor, illuming the west,

"Sinketh unseen 'fore the blackness of night,--
Her spirit reached forth to the land of light;

"She folded her boy to her aching heart,
And you--you promised to do your part.

"With a calm, sweet smile on her lips she died,
And you drew the child from his mother's side.

"Oh! well for him had he sunk to his rest,
Pillowed in peace on that motionless breast.

"Far better his fate had his young eyes closed,
Mantled in shroud where his mother reposed.