Mother, how still the baby lies

Eliza.
1 "Mother, how still the baby lies,
I cannot hear his breath;
I cannot see his laughing eyes--
They tell me this is death.

2 "My little work I thought to bring,
And sit down by his bed;
And pleasantly I tried to sing--
They hush'd me--He is dead!

3 "They say that he again will rise.
More beautiful than now;
That God will bless him in the skies,
O, mother, tell me how."

Mother.
4 "Daughter, do you remember, dear,
The cold, dark thing you bought
And laid upon the casement here?
A wither'd worm you thought.

5 "I told you, that almighty power
Could break that wither'd shell,
And show you, in a future hour,
Something would please you well.

6 "Look at that chrysalis, my love;
An empty shell it lies:
Now raise your wond'ring glance above
To where yon insect flies."

Eliza.
7 "O, yes, mamma, how very gay
Its wings of starry gold--
And see! it lightly flies away,
Beyond my gentle hold.

8 "O, mother, now I know full well,
If God that worm can change,
And draw it from this broken shell,
On golden wings to range;

9 "How beautiful will brother be,
When God shall give him wings
Above this dying world to flee,
And live with heav'nly things."

Source: Linden Harp: a rare collection of popular melodies adapted to sacred and moral songs, original and selected. Illustrated. Also a manual of... #147