Aged 6 years and 5 months; died July 4, 1875.
With eyes that scarce can see for tears,We look back o'er the little spaceOf baby Charlie's life. Six yearsSince first we looked upon his face.
Six years since from the angel bandOur little cherub strayed away.We did not know or understandHe was but lent, and could not stay.
We looked into his lovely eyes,So large, so soulful, and so deep,And knew he came from God's own skies,And thought that he was ours to keep.
But angels missed him 'round the ThroneAnd ere his earthly years were seven,Christ called him, leaving us alone,To turn our sorrowing hearts to Heaven.
For now, no matter what may come,Wealth, fortune, honors, earthly bliss,No place can seem to us like home,Hereafter save where Charlie is.
Life could not grow so warm, so bright,No circumstances bring such joy,But that our thoughts each morn and nightWould turn to Heaven and our boy.
The thought that we may meet him there,And walk with him the heavenly plainAlone can keep us from despair,And bring us comfort in our pain.
For Arthur, who is left below,Are many thorny paths to tread.His lips must drink of grief and woe;Not so with Charlie, who is dead.
For Arthur there must be, at best,Full many an hour of gloom and sorrow;For Charlie, dwelling with the blest,Joy only, through an endless morrow.
Walking the golden streets above,He watches o'er us ever more.God grant through Christ's redeeming love,We yet may meet him on that shore.
The thought of death is very sweet--The grave can have no chill or gloomFor those who have a child to meetBeyond in fields of living bloom.