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Love of Parents.

My loving father, mother,—
I never can repay
The heavy debt I owe to them,
And will owe them for aye!

How much to them indebted
I ever hence shall be
For loving, tender care
In helpless infancy!

For clothing, food and shelter—
And hearing all my cares
In wayward childhood's weakness,
And the succeeding years.

In youth's impulsive moments
Their kind advice was given
To shield from harms I knew not!
My follies soon forgiven!

And when in hours of sickness,
Yea, nigh to death, I lay—
How tenderly end gently
They nursed me nigh; and day!

How could I cause one sorrow
To hearts whose love so true,
And pure, and good to me was given
E'en long before i knew?

page 75

O loving father, mother,
I never can repay
The debt I owe—will always owe—
But this much will I say:

That long as God shall spare ye,
My gratitude I'll prove
By kindly words and filial deeds,—
True evidence of love '

In life I'll love my parents.
And when they've closed their eyes
In death, sweet loving memories
Shall in my breast arise.

G. W. Russell.