Explore "A Child's Smile" by Dinah Mulock on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
A CHILD'S smile -- nothing more; / Quiet and soft and grave, and seldom seen, / Like summer lightning o'er, / Leaving the little face again serene.
I think, boy well-beloved, / Thine angel, who did grieve to see how far / Thy childhood is removed / From sports that dear to other children are,
On this pale cheek has thrown / The brightness of his countenance, and made / A beauty like his own -- / That, while we see it, we are half afraid,
And marvel, will it stay? / Or, long ere manhood, will that angel fair, / Departing some sad day, / Steal the child-smile and leave the shadow care?
Nay, fear not. As is given / Unto this child the father watching o'er, / His angel up in heaven / Beholds Our Father's face for evermore.
And he will help him bear / His burthen, as his father helps him now; / So he may come to wear / That happy child-smile on an old man's brow.