REASON. A Poem

Reason, best of Heaven's blessings, Given only to mankind; Life would not be worth possessing, Did not reason rule the mind.

When we see capricious fortune Striving all the rich to bless, Reason tells us envy not them, Riches are not happiness.

When in height of beauty blooming, CLARA exercises pow'r, Reason whispers in our hearing,

" Beauty is a fading flow'r." When in pomp and pow'r parading, Kings and Presidents we see; Reason tells us they are fading, They must die as well as we.

When fell poverty invades us, And our lot is slaves to be; Reason tells us, bear with patience; Time will come we shall be free.

When our passions drag us headlong, Thro' lust, ambition, av'rice—where— In search of happiness and pleasure, Reason tells us, 'tis not there.

Let pain and poverty attend us, All our life in trouble spent, Reason has a balm to send us, And that balm is call'd content.

When we're on our death bed lying, Full of anguish and of pain; Reason tells us be of comfort, You shall surely live again.