A sweet child-maiden, like a sunbeam fair, Was my friend Edith, tripping here and there,— Of girlish innocence a picture bright. Her soft blue eyes so radiant with delight, Changing and sparkling with each happy thought, A deeper tint from her brown ringlets caught. Beloved, admired and petted everywhere,— Alas, that shadows fall on aught so fair! Folly and sin brought down upon her head A fiery baptism, direful, dark and dread; Scorching her very life; blighting with fears The joy and glory of her girlhood years. Who could reproach her in her misery? Who could but pity such humility? If she had sinned and brought this penance down Should she not work and win a victor's crown? With sad eyes piteous through falling tears, She looked down vistas dark; in coming years To meet, perhaps, cold words and cruel scorn, Till her poor aching heart was crushed and torn.
But God in pity took the withered flower To bloom anew in Heaven's celestial bower; Released at last her suffering soul, And made its crimson stains as white as wool: And we who, weeping, stood around her there, Saw death transformed into an angel fair; The cold, dark visage we had thought to see, Transfigured into love and sympathy. Rare, wondrous beauty met her earth-dimmed sight, And rapturous exclamations of delight Fell from her lips. Alas! no mortal eye With her beyond the vale of life could see! Unheard the music which relieved her pain! How sure were we the Lost was found again. She passed away, revealing to our sight A brightening glint of garments pure and white; Of "shadowy fleets sailing on unknown seas;" Of pearly gates beyond; of flowers and trees; And, wrapt in awe and wonder, well we knew That angels came to help our darling through That last ordeal; and on the other side, The blessed Jesus was her safe, sure guide.
