To aid thy mind's developement,—to watch

Thy dawn of little joys,—to sit and see

Almost thy very growth,—to view thee catch

Knowledge of objects,—wonders yet to thee!

To hold thee lightly on a gentle knee,

And print on thy soft cheek a parent's kiss,—

This, it should seem, was not reserved for me—

Yet this was in my nature:—as it is,

I know not what is there, yet something like to this.