FRIENDSHIP.

FRIENDSHIP! peculiar boon of Heaven,
The noble mind's delight and pride,
To men and angels only given,
To all the lower world denied.

While love, unknown among the blest,
Parent of thousand wild desires,
The savage and the human breast
Torments alike with raging fires.

With bright, but oft destructive gleam,
Alike o'er all his lightnings fly;
Thy lambent glories only beam
Around the favorites of the sky.

Thy gentle flows of guiltless joy
On fools and villains ne'er descend;

In vain for thee the tyrant sighs,
And hugs a flatterer for a friend.

Directress of the brave and just,

O, guide us through life's darksome way!

And let the tortures of mistrust

On selfish bosoms only prey.

Nor shall thine ardor cease to glow,

When souls to blissful climes remove;

What raised our virtue here below,

Shall aid our happiness above.

Who loved thee so fondly as he?

He caught the first accents that fell from thy tongue,

And joined in thy innocent glee.

Be kind to thy father, for now he is old,

His locks intermingled with gray;

His footsteps are feeble, once fearless and bold;
Thy father is passing away.

Be kind to thy mother—for, lo! on her brow
May traces of sorrow be seen;

O, well mayst thou cherish and comfort her now,
For loving and kind hath she been.

Remember thy mother-for thee she will pray
As long as God giveth her breath;

With accents of kindness then cheer her lone way,
E'en down to the valley of death.

Be kind to thy brother his heart will have dearth If the smile of thy joy be withdrawn ;

The flowers of feeling will fade at the birth,

If the dew of affection be gone.

Be kind to thy brother

wherever you are,

The love of a brother shall be

An ornament purer and richer by far

Than pearls from the depth of the sea.

Be kind to thy sister

not many may know

The depth of true sisterly love;

The wealth of the ocean lies fathoms below

The surface that sparkles above.

Thy kindness shall bring thee many sweet hours,
And blessings thy pathway to crown;
Affection shall weave thee a garland of flowers
More precious than wealth or renown.

LET every minute, as it flies,
Record thee good as well as wise:
While such pursuits your thoughts engage,
In a few years you'll live an age.
Who measures life by rolling years?
Fools measure by revolving spheres!
Go thou, and fetch th' unerring rule
From Virtue's and from Wisdom's school.
Who well improves life's shortest day
Will scarce regret its setting ray.

BE KIND TO OLD AGE.

BE ever kind to those who bend
Beneath the weight of time;
For they were once, like thee, my friend,
In blooming manhood's prime.

But bitter cares and weary years
Have borne their joys away,
Till nought remains but age and tears,

And darkening, dim decay.

Life's sweetest hours have hastened past,

Its bloom is faded now,

And dusky twilight deepens fast

Along the furrowed brow.

And soon the shattered remnants all
A narrow house receives;

For one by one they silent fall,

Like withered autumn leaves.

O, then be kind, where'er thou art!
Nor deem such action vain ;
Kind words can make the aged heart
Seem almost young again.

Cheer thou the weary pilgrim on
To yonder mansion cold;

And

may the same for thee be done

When thou thyself art old.

228

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

DAY is past.

Stars have set their watch at last,

Founts that through the deep woods flow,
Make sweet sounds unheard till now,

Flowers have shut with fading light

Good night.

Go to rest.

Sleep sits dove-like on thy breast!

If within that secret cell

One dark form of memory dwell,

Be it mantled from thy sight

Good night!

Joy be thine.

Kind looks o'er thy slumbers shine!

Go, and in thy spirit-land

Meet thy home's long parted band;

Be their eyes all love and light

Good night!

Peace to all!

Dreams of heaven on mourners fall!

Exile, o'er thy couch may gleams
Pass from thine own mountain streams;
Bard, away to worlds more bright

Good night!