Toil only gives the soul to shine, Worth being poor to hold in fee. Both, heirs to some six feet of sod, A heritage, it seems to me, Well worth a life to hold in fee. -American. J. R. LOWELL, 1819 PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY. FOR the highborn and the low There's a joy that all may know, A source of bliss exhaustless, undefiled; Believe me 'tis no dream, But lessons life has taught me from a child: It is, to act your part Unsullied, though temptations rise in view; Those duties to fulfil, Our Father has ordain'd for us to do. No matter what our lot, In castle or in cot, There's work for every willing heart and hand; There's evil to subdue, Exertions to renew, And Knowledge that we all should understand: Disdaining to despond; But ready to respond To Duty's call, and cheerfully obey With firm resolve to win, When battling with sin, And climb the mounts that bar our heavenward way! If blessings make us glad, Oh, let us to the sad Impart in acts of kindness, peace, and joy; Determined every ill To crush with earnest will, And weeds that mar Life's garlands to destroy To scorn a cruel deed, And faithful to this creed, To do a worthy action when we can To comfort the distress'd; And, helping the oppress'd, To dignify the soul and name of Man. With Rectitude and Right For sources of delight, And all our aspirations for the TRUE, May we the pleasant paths of PEACE pursue; When life at last shall flee, To fall asleep, mourn'd o'er by those we love : With prayer and blessing bless'd, That we may take our rest With Angels, in the realms of light above. ROWLAND BROWN, 1837- WEALTH AND FAME. CLAD with the moss of gathering years, Ah! who would strive for fame that flies S Beneath retirement's sheltering wing, Let wisdom build your humble cot: There clasp your fair one to your breast, Content your humble board shall dress, MAN, work out thine own salvation Men have tried to speak in beauty, Every word has been a flower; But the stern behests of duty They have shrunk from hour to hour! Ever more the ore of thought They have dug with miser's care, But that ore have left unwrought Into tools with which to dare Into weapons keen and bright, Ever making Truth and Right Golden thoughts have through the ages Truth lies fetter'd still in books, Men who world-wide woes may heal The high chivalry of living For the good of all around, Should in every soul abound! |