Explore "The Dead Babe" by Eugene Field on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Last night, as my dear babe lay dead, / In agony I knelt and said: / "O God! what have I done, / Or in what wise offended Thee, / That Thou should'st take away from me / My little son?
"Upon the thousand useless lives, / Upon the guilt that vaunting thrives, / Thy wrath were better spent! / Why should'st Thou take my little son -- / Why should'st Thou vent Thy wrath upon / This innocent?"
Last night, as my dear babe lay dead, / Before mine eyes the vision spread / Of things that might have been: / Licentious riot, cruel strife, / Forgotten prayers, a wasted life / Dark red with sin!
Then, with sweet music in the air, / I saw another vision there: / A Shepherd in whose keep / A little lamb -- my little child! / Of worldly wisdom undefiled, / Lay fast asleep!
Last night, as my dear babe lay dead, / In those two messages I read / A wisdom manifest; / And though my arms be childless now, / I am content -- to Him I bow / Who knoweth best.