The powerful of the earth-the wise, the good, 35 Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past, All in one mighty sepulchre.-The hills Rock-ribb'd, and ancient as the sun, the vales Stretching in pensive quietness between; The venerable woods-rivers that move 40 In majesty, and the complaining brooks That make the meadows green; and, pour'd round all, Old Ocean's gray and melancholy waste,Are but the solemn decorations all Of the great tomb of man. The golden 45 sun, His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry-slave, at night, Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustain'd and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. THE CHILD AND LILY. White, as those leaves just blown apart, 5 LINES ON MARCH. 15 Thou bring'st the hope of those calm skies And that soft time of sunny showers, When the wide bloom on earth that lies, Seems of a brighter world than ours. THE GLADness of nATURE. Is this a time to be cloudy and sad, When all is smiling above and around; When even the deep blue heavens look glad, And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground? There are notes of joy from the blackbird and wren, 5 And the gossip of swallows through all the sky; The ground-squirrel gaily chirps by his den, And the wilding bee hums merrily by. The clouds are at play in the azure space, And their shadows sport in the deep green vale; 10 And here they stretch to the frolic chase, And there they roll in the easy gale. There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower, There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree, There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower, 15 And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea. And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles On the dewy earth, that smiles in his ray, On the leaping waters and gay young isles,Ay, look, and he'll smile all thy gloom away. BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN. Oh, deem not they are blest alone Whose lives a peaceful tenor keep; The Power who pities man, has shown A blessing for the eyes that weep. GEORGE P. THIS popular poet, known throughout the States as 'the song-writer of America,' was born at Philadelphia in 1802. Almost as soon as he was able to comprehend the world in which he moved, he enriched the pages of various journals by voluntary contributions. These attracted much attention. In 1823 he established the 'New-York Mirror, and made it in time the principal artery through which the best life-blood of American WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE. Woodman, spare that tree! NO MAN KNOWETH HIS SEPULCHRE. 5 When he, who, from the scourge of wrong MORRIS. 10 literature circulated. General Morris has published a number of works: Brier Clip,' a play in 5 acts, founded upon events of the American revolution. The little Frenchman and his Water Lots, The Atlantic Club Book," 'The Song-Writers of America,' 'National Melodies," "The Prose and Poetry of Europe and America. He subse quently published some songs, which have all the grace, melody and touching sweetness of his earlier lays. In youth it shelter'd me, That placed it near his cot; There, woodman, let it stand, Whose glory and renown And wouldst thou hack it down? Woodman, forbear thy stroke! Cut not its earth-bound ties; I sought its grateful shade; Here too my sisters play'd. My mother kiss'd me here; My father press'd my handForgive this foolish tear, But let that old oak stand! 10 Who round the hearth-stone used to close, My father read this holy book How calm was my poor mother's look, Her angel face-I see it yet! Again that little group is met Thou truest friend man ever knew, When all were false I found thee true, 15 night! The cold cheerless ocean in safety we've past And the warm genial earth glads our vision at last: In the land of the stranger true hearts we shall find 5 To soothe us in absence of those left behind. Then fill high the brimmer!-the land is in sight, We'll be happy, if never again, boys, tonight. Fill high the brimmer-till morn we'll remain, again Then part in the hope to meet one day 10 Round the hearth-stone of home, in the land of our birth, The holiest spot on the face of the earth! Dear country! our thoughts are as constant to thee As the steel to the star or the stream to the sea; 15 Then fill high the brimmer! the land is in sight, We'll be happy, if never again, boys, tonight. Fill high the brimmer-the wine-sparkles rise Like tears, from the fountain of joy, to the eyes! May rain-drops that fall from the stormclouds of care 20 Melt away in the sun-beaming smiles of the fair! chime of the nautical bells! Drink deep to the 20 We'll be happy, if never again, boys, to 5 Though seas divide us many a mile, OUR PATRIOT SIRES. I love the patriot sages, Who, in the days of yore, 15 BEN BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. ENJAMIN FRANKLIN was born at Boston on the 17th of January 1706. He became a printer, under one of his brothers, with whom he continued as an apprentice until the year 1723. He then proceeded to Philadelphia, where he soon met with employment in his business. The two following years he spent in England, and after his return set up a newspaper in Philadelphia, which proved very profitable, and afforded him an opportunity of making himself known as a political writer. In 1732, he began to publish, 'Poor Richard's Almanack, which was continued for many years. In 1736, he was appointed clerk to the general assembly of Pennsylvania, and was re-elected for several years, till he was chosen a representative for the city of Philadelphia. In 1749, he first suggested his idea of explaining the phenomena of lightning, and of the aurora borealis, upon electrical principles. In 1757, he was sent to England, with a petition to the king, against the proprietaries, who refused to THE WAY TO WEALTH. bear any share in the public expenses, which he got settled to the satisfaction of the state. In 1766, he was examined before the parliament, relative to the stamp-act; but finding all efforts to restore harmony between Great Britain and her colonies useless, he returned to America in 1775, just after the commencement of hostilities. When it was determined by Congress to open a public negociation with France, Dr. Franklin was fixed upon to go to that country. He was afterwards twice chosen president of the assembly of Philadelphia. He died on the 17th of April 179, at the great age of 84 years and 3 months. His writings are not numerous: besides his Poor Richard's Almanack and a series of letters detailing New Experiments and Observations on Electricity, his 'Autobiography' and essays may be mentioned, which form a valuable portion of the miscellaneous literature of the period. A complete edition of his works was published by him in 1779. the country? How shall we ever be As clearly shown in the preface of an old Pennsylvania able to pay them? What would you Almanack, intitled, Poor Richard improved. Courteous Reader, I have heard, that nothing gives an author so great pleasure, as to find his works respectfully quoted by others. Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately, where a great number of people were collected, at an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain clean old man, with white locks, 'Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin advise us to?' Father Abraham stood up, and replied, 'If you would have my advice, I will give it you in short, for a word to the wise is enough,' as poor Richard says.' They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and, gathering round him, he proceeded as follows: 'Friends,' says he, 'the taxes are, indeed, very heavy, and, if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; 'God helps them that help themselves,' as poor Richard says. '1. It would be thought a hard government that should tax the people one tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service; but idleness taxes many of us much more; sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. 'Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labours wear, while the used key is always bright,' as poor Richard says. 'But dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of,' as poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep! forgetting, that 'the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave,' as poor Richard says. 'If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be,' as poor Richard says, 'the greatest prodigality;' since, as he elsewhere tells us, 'lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough always proves little enough;' let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy; and he that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him. Drive thy business, let not that drive thee: and early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,' as poor Richard says, 'So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves. 'Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains without pains; then help hands, for I have no lands,' or, if I have, they are smartly taxed. 'He that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honour,' as poor Richard says; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, 'at the working man's house, hunger looks in, but dares not enter.' Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them.' What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, 'diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Then plow deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.' Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow. "One to-day is worth two to-morrows,' as poor Richard says; and, farther, 'never leave that till tomorrow, which you can do to-day.' If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? Are you then your own master? Be ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your king. Handle your tools without mittens, remember, that the cat in gloves catches no mice,' as poor Richard says. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects, for constant dropping wears away stones; and by diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little strokes fell great oaks.' 'Methinks I hear some of you say, 'must a man afford himself no leisure?' I will tell thee, my friend, what poor Richard says; 'employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.' Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never: for 'a life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Many, without labour, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock; whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. |
