A MOTHER'S GIFT-A BIBLE.
REMEMBER, love, who gave thee this,
When other days shall come;
When she who had thy earliest kiss
Sleeps in her narrow home;
Remember, 't was a mother gave
The gift to one she'd die to save.
That mother sought a pledge of love,
The holiest for her son;
And from the gifts of God above,
She chose a goodly one;
She chose for her beloved boy
The source of life and light and joy;
And bade him keep the gift, that when
The parting hour should come,
They might have hope to meet again
In an eternal home.
She said his faith in that would be
Sweet incense to her memory.
And should the scoffer in his pride
Laugh that fond faith to scorn,
And bid him cast the pledge aside
That he from youth had borne,
She bade him pause, and ask his breast
If he or she had loved him best.
A parent's blessing on her son
Goes with this holy thing;
The love that would retain the one
Must to the other cling.
Remember, 'tis no idle toy,
A MOTHER'S GIFT; remember, boy.