76. Saint Innocence

Dear little Saint! sweet Innocence!
Thy throne in heaven we see:
Jesus, thy love, the Eternal King,
Hath done great things for thee.

In clays of darkness when the world
Despised onr Saviour's Name,
Thy childish heart, by grace grown old,
Gloried in such dear shame.

The Roman children knew thee well,
Lighthearted in thy play,
Filling the vineyards with thy songs,
The gayest of the gay.

They saw thee at thy daily tasks,
Obedient, gentle, still:
They learned from thee how softly love
Its duties can fulfil.

They wondered at thy modesty,
Thy soiiPs most sweet defence;
It made thee like a queen to them,
Dear little Innocence!

And now thou art a real queen
Up in the land of heaven:
Jesus to thee a jewelled crown
And fadeless palm hath given.

In grand old Rome thy love was set
On our dear Lord alone:
He saw the secret of thy heart,
And took thee for His own.

He loved thee midst the orange trees
And flower-beds of thy home,
And amongst the Sunday worshippers
In the close catacomb.

He loved to hear thee sing the songs,
The Christian songs that tell
Of the Good Shepherd, and the sheep
That Shepherd loved so well.

He made thee grave, and all the while
He made thee grow more gay;
Thy heart grew lighter through the weight
Of love that on it lay.

He gave thee faith that made thy heart
Strong as the walls of Rome;
He gave thee love and purity,
And then He called thee home.

Dear Martyr-Child! they tore thy flesh;
With fire they scorched each limb;
But games midst orange gardens seemed
Less sweet than death for Him.

And now thou art with Him, fair Child!
Nestlino^ at His dear feet:
Thou knew'st that heaven was bright, but not
That it was half so sweet.

Our own dear Saint! make us like thee;
Be thou our kind defence;
Give us thy gift of modesty,
Sweet Sister Innocence!