WOMEN OF THE SCRIPTURES. EVE. MRS. LYDIA H. SIGOURNEY. For the first time, a fair and goodly scene A lovely form, with pallid mien. Fled, as the sun with noontide glow Dissolves the snow-wreath cold, Leaving the bliss that none but mothers know, While he, the partner of her heaven-taught joy, Knelt in adoring praise beside his beauteous boy. She, first of all our mortal race To mark, each radiant hour The rounded foot, with timid tread, The strange, mysterious, never-dying soul, — To watch the angel-smile of sleeping innocence. No more she mourned lost Eden's joy, In their primeval bowers By wrecking tempests riven, The thorn and thistle of their exile's lot She heeded not, So all-absorbing was the sweet employ To rear the incipient man,* the gift her God had given But when his boyhood bold A richer beauty caught, Her kindling glance of pleasure told • And. Eve said, I have gotten a man from the Lord."-Gen. iv. 1. |