To fnatch thee from yon fheltering bower, Let no rude hand prefume.
Yet, yet, protected from the blaft,
Thy leaves in beauty blow;
Ah foon thy halcyon days are paft,
Stern winter lays thee low.
But when revolves the varying year,
And fleeps the wafting ftorm,
Returning life again fhall cheer,
Thy renovated form.
When nature's rougher fkies are fled,
Then cloth'd in lovelieft hue,
Again thou❜lt lift thy gentle head,
And drink the vernal dew.
O fay of what has pride and pow'r
On life's low vale to boaft?
Poor flutterers! they but live their hour,
Then mingle with the dust,
For fo in life's delightful morn,
Fair laughs the funny eye,
To fome few hours of joyance born,
Beneath a cloudless sky.
So fwift is pafs'd our little day,
And fuch our tranfient doom;
Here let us pause, nor dare to say
What lies beyond the tomb.
As I was wand'ring o'er the green,]
Not knowing where I went,
I saw, by chance, a pleasant scene,
The cottage of content.
With hafty steps. I nearer drew,
Towards the humble cot,
To take a more attentive view
Of that delightful spot.
Close to the door, in fportive play,
Some children ran about,
Another in the cradle lay,
All vigorous and ftout.
The healthy parents were employ'di
Juft like th' industrious ant,
In fmiling fummer to provide
Against cold winter's want..
When fol the eastern sky illumes
And makes all nature gay,
The father then his work refumes,
And ends it with the day.
Happy, thrice happy are the poor
With neceffaries bleft!
In confcious innocence secure,.
They take their balmy rest.
Not fo with minds, whofe heap'd up wealth
Corrodes and fpoils their fleep:
For gold they lose their time and health,
Which long they cannot keep..
In watchful fear then may I live,
And day and night be spent.
In fuch a manner, as to give
God praife, and me content.
As Jane and Lucy went to town,
They met a poor boy walking down,
All rags and tatters, pale and wan;
Jane saw him first, and thus began :
"Look, fifter, look at yon poor lad,
How pale he looks! how meanly clad!
We went to aunt's the other day,
And had a penny to spend in play,
Now Lucy I will give him mine,
And hope thou'lt alfo give him thine."
"Yes, that I will, with all my heart,
And glad I have not spent my part."
"Here, poor lad without a hat,
Take this halfpenny, and that;
For we have clothes and vict'als too,
We do not want, tho' others do."
With smiling face the lad drew near,
The girls could scarce refrain a tear,
When the poor lad was heard to fay,
"God bless you both by night and day!?
OH! what's the matter? what's the matter?
What is't that ails young Harry Gill?
That evermore his teeth they chatter,
Chatter, chatter, chatter ftill..
Of waistcoats Harry has no lack,
Good duffle grey, and flannel fine;
He has a blanket on his back,
And coats enou! to fmother nine.
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