LITTLE NELL

by: Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)

LEAMING through the silent church-yard,

Winter sunlight seemed to shed

Golden shadows like soft blessings

O'er a quiet little bed,

 

Where a pale face lay unheeding

Tender tears that o'er it fell;

No sorrow now could touch the heart

Of gentle little Nell.

 

Ah, with what silent patient strength

The frail form lying there

Had borne its heavy load of grief,

Of loneliness and care.

 

Now, earthly burdens were laid down,

And on the meek young face

There shone a holier loveliness

Than childhood's simple grace.

 

Beset with sorrow, pain and fear,

Tempted by want and sin,

With none to guide or counsel her

But the brave child-heart within.

 

Strong in her fearless, faithful love,

Devoted to the last,

Unfaltering through gloom and gleam

The little wanderer passed.

 

Hand in hand they journeyed on

Through pathways strange and wild,

The gray-haired, feeble, sin-bowed man

Led by the noble child.

 

So through the world's dark ways she passed,

Till o'er the church-yard sod,

To the quiet spot where they found rest,

Those little feet had trod.

 

To that last resting-place on earth

Kind voices bid her come,

There her long wanderings found an end,

And weary Nell a home.

 

A home whose light and joy she was,

Though on her spirit lay

A solemn sense of coming change,

That deepened day by day.

 

There in the church-yard, tenderly,

Through quiet summer hours,

Above the poor neglected graves

She planted fragrant flowers.

 

The dim aisles of the ruined church

Echoed the child's light tread,

And flickering sunbeams thro' the leaves

Shone on her as she read.

 

And here where a holy silence dwelt,

And golden shadows fell,

When Death's mild face had looked on her,

They laid dear happy Nell.

 

Long had she wandered o'er the earth,

One hand to the old man given,

By the other angels led her on

Up a sunlit path to Heaven.

 

Oh! "patient, loving, noble Nell,"

Like light from sunset skies,

The beauty of thy sinless life

Upon the dark world lies.

 

On thy sad story, gentle child,

Dim eyes will often dwell,

And loving hearts will cherish long

The memory of Nell.

• Louisa May Alcott: Bibliography - A bibliography of Alcott's poetic, prose, and dramatic works; includes a list of critical resources.
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