ON THE BIRTH OF J—. H—. ESQ.'S SON. NOVEMBER 15, 1790. Janet Little (later Richmond) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T126549 Little, Janet, 1759-1813. The Poetical Works of Janet Little, the Scotch Milkmaid. Air Printed by John & Peter Wilson 1792 pp. [138]-140.

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ON THE BIRTH OF J — . H — . ESQ . ' S SON . NOVEMBER 15 , 1790. DEAR lovely babe , with hearts elate , We hail thy natal hour : Here does the Muse impatient wait , Libations kind to pour . Upon a theme so new , so sweet , She now attempts to sing : No foreign aid she needs invite , To touch the vocal string . But while with anxious thoughts on thee , And ardent look , I gaze , Can I the valiant hero see , To animate my lays ? The plodding philosophic eye , Shall I attempt to scan ? Or in thy infant smiles descry The politicians plan ? Too hard the task , my humble muse Can boast of no such art ; Though hope , on flutt'ring pinions does All this and more impart . While fondl'd by a mother kind , Thou checks the falling tears , When thy lov'd father to her mind In ev'ry charm appears . His features sweet , attractive , mild , Each soft , each winning grace , She does in thee , her darling child , With fond remembrance trace . And that the virtues he possess'd May in thy bosom glow , She does indulgent heav'n request , Who mitigates her wo . May he , on whom her hope relies , Protect thy lovely form , While sudden blasts impetuous rise In life's tempestuous storm . For thee , be calm the rolling flood , Be still the blust'ring wave : May'st thou be bless'd with every good A mother's heart can crave .