My Child

My beautiful boy with eyes so brown, And golden curls adorning his head. I felt so proud when I took him down Through the streets, and smiled at all he said.

I spent three years of greatest pleasure, With this wonderful baby of mine, He the most precious earthly treasure I had ever known so genuine.

But when it pleased God to claim His own, He sent for my treasure to be brought; Then all my hopes to heaven had flown With the purest, though yearning thought.

Over a period of some years Sadly I missed the star of our home, The sunshine was so faint through my tears, Though peace to my heart from God had come.

Yet long after my child had been gone In anguish I gazed up to the sky, And then through the window I looked down, What I saw on the ground made me cry.

The dear little shoe-tracks in the mud Perfectly these tracks their shape had kept; My grief bursted forth like a cloud As I looked at the tracks, and wept.

These shoe tracks remained until the rain Obliterated them from my sight, And though they caused me severest pain Memory of them is a delight.

These same little shoes are put aside Among my keep-sakes so dear to me; And his portrait brings him to my side, Like in the dear days, that used to be.