Songs by the Way, by George Washington Doane (1860)

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"Songs by the Way"
The Poetical Writings of the Right Rev. George Washington Doane, D.D., LL.D.

Arranged and Edited by His Son, William Croswell Doane

New York: D. Appleton, 1860.

THE NEW CRADLE.

A very little boy, whose infant brother had died the day before, being asked where
he was, sweetly replied, "Asleep, up stairs, in his new cradle."

"ASLEEP, in his new cradle"--
     How beautiful the thought,
Thy childhood, in its simpleness,
     From nature's heart, has caught:
A reach, our "Sweetest Shakspeare,"
     Himself, has failed to win;
And one, whose truthful tenderness
     Must make "the world, all kin."

"Asleep, in his new cradle"--
     Sad mother, dry your tears
In this, your heart-bereavement,
     God's tenderest love appears
The cradle, you provided,
     From death, could not be free;
Your loveliest has now secured
     His immortality.

"Asleep, in his new cradle"--
     He wakes in Paradise;
The lullabies of nature,
     Lost, in its symphonies
Among the holy children,
     In pastures green, he plays;
Or joins, with lisping accents,
     In the music of their lays.

"Asleep, in his new cradle"--
     He waits for you to come,
From earth, its sins and sorrows,
     To his bright and happy home;
Till the resurrection-breaking,
     God's loved ones, all, shall bring,
And the dead in Christ, awaking,
     Reign with their Saviour-King.

RIVERSIDE, SEPTUAGESIMA, 1855.

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