To Miss ----

In tracing here these lines, my friend, Which spring from friendly heart, I here record an earnest wish, For thee, before we part:

May health and happiness serene, Long, long with thee abide, May youthful joys no sorrow bring, Nor future woes betide.

And when thy youthful beauty leaves, And youthful thoughts thy breast, May thou in calm old age still live, In happiness and rest.

TO A LITTLE GIRL.

Go, little girl, your course pursue, On life's rough ocean safely glide, May want nor woe e'er visit you, Nor any other ills betide.

Improve the shining hours of youth, For soon, alas, they will be gone, Strive hard for learning, zeal and truth, For ev'ry soul must fight alone.

TO A FRIEND.

Within this little book of thine, Are thoughts of many a friendly mind, Express'd in words, on which you'll gaze In after years, with feelings kind.

And while you're scanning o'er each page, These lines I write, perchance you'll see, And tho' they're penn'd by careless hand, You'll know that they are penn'd by me.

Perhaps you'll think of school-days then, Of happy school-days, long since past, When you and I, in careless youth, Thought that those days would always last.

TO MASTER GEORGE TWIDDY.

G o on your way, my youthful friend, E arth's joys and woes to feel, O 'er rough and smooth, your course will tend, R ight on, thro' woe and weal, G ird up yourself then, for the fight, E ach foe to meet without affright.

T hink not too much of joy or woe, W hich one and all must meet, I n duty's path still onward go, D ark days and bright to greet, D etermin'd still to do your best, Y our work, be sure, will then be blest.