&nbsp In the middle of the night
Mother's spirit came and spoke to me,
       &nbsp Looking weariful and white -
As 'twere untimely news she broke to me.

       &nbsp "O my daughter, joyed are you
To own the weetless child you mother there;
       &nbsp 'Men may search the wide world through,'
You think, 'nor find so fair another there!'

       &nbsp "Dear, this midnight time unwombs
Thousands just as rare and beautiful;
       &nbsp Thousands whom High Heaven foredooms
To be as bright, as good, as dutiful.

       &nbsp "Source of ecstatic hopes and fears
And innocent maternal vanity,
       &nbsp Your fond exploit but shapes for tears
New thoroughfares in sad humanity.

       &nbsp"Yet as you dream, so dreamt I
When Life stretched forth its morning ray to me;
       &nbsp Other views for by and by!" . . .
Such strange things did mother say to me.