But how unlike the light of human eye

But how unlike the light of human eye! How free and full their glances shine around! The painful presence of no enemy Can ever their all-reaching grace confound; But kindly round the room, on old and young, They shed their cheering and impartial soul; While human eyes all gloom and trouble shun, These sweetly on the raging tempest roll.

Yes, through the curtained and storm-pelted pane, Athwart the gloom their lovely glances breast; And on the Earth’s unmitigated pain, Freely their thousand twinkling sorrows rest; And too, how often is their beamy light The courier to ’nighted wand’rer’s fear; The golden pencils that impartial write The hallowed words of home, and hope, and cheer!

Blow, blow, ye gales, and at the windows war; Your raging only swells the beauty here; Content, and happiness, and beauty, are Within, and laughter takes the place of fear. Glad are the youth to hear the storm go on; And even now are planning divers ways To utilize the virgin wealth at morn, As we have all in by-gone happier days.

They talk of carving Winter’s ghastly form, From out the deeply pil’ed quarries white; And how the statue can withstand the storm; Which we all know will be their rapture’s height: Deeper the snow, the deeper be their bliss; And happier they, the farther down they go; Were we required to now accomplish this, Ourselves would statues be of human snow.

The daughter’s languaged eye and dimple’s hue, Defy the tempest, and her silken hair Waves only in the sighs of love that flow, In artless freedom, round her beauty fair; And even grandma, in her corner warm, Begirt with children’s prate and Pussy’s “purr,” With temples bleached in time’s eternal storm, Her story tells, unmindful of the stir.

Affection fond and social beauty reign, By wholesome games and books diversified; And still endeared by music’s heavenly strain, Whose flow can stay the summer’s ebbing tide; As parents’ eyes each offspring head survey, Their hearts with partial pride and fondness warm; And night is turned into a cosy day; And sunny hearts dispel the cloud and storm.