EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK OF WISDOM. "Hearken unto thy father—despise not thy mother when she is old!"

'Tis Wisdom speaks—her voice divine Attend my girl, and life is thine. Thine taught to shun the devious way, Where folly leads the blind astray. Let virtue's lamp thy footsteps guide, And shun the dang'rous heights of pride; The peaceful vale, the golden mean, The path of life pursue serene. From infancy what sufferings spring— While yet a naked helpless thing, Who o'er thy limbs a cov'ring cast, To shield thee from th' inclement blast? Thy MOTHER—honor her—her arms. Secur'd thee from a thousand harms; When helpless, hanging on her breast, She sooth'd thy sobbing heart to rest; For thee, her peace, her health destroy'd, For thee, her ev'ry pow'r employ'd: Thoughtful of thee, before the day Shot through the dark its rising ray; Thoughtful of thee, when sable night Again had quench'd the beams of light; To heav'n in ceaseless pray'r for thee She rais'd her head, and bent her knee. Neglect her not, now feeble grown— Oh! make her wants and woes thy own; From youthful insolence defend, Be patron, guardian, daughter, friend. Thus shalt thou soothe, in life's decline, The mis'ries that may chance be thine!