And hopest thou not ('tis every father's hope) That since thy strength must with thy years elope, And thou wilt need some comfort to assuage Health's last farewell, a staff of thine old age, That then, in recompense of all thy cares, Thy child shall show respect to thy grey hairs, Befriend thee, of all other friends bereft, And give thy life its only cordial left? Aware then how much danger intervenes, To compass that good end, forecast the means. His heart, now passive, yields to thy command; Secure it thine. Its key is in thine hand. If thou desert thy charge and throw it wide, Nor heed what guests there enter and abide, Complain not if attachments lewd and base Supplant thee in it, and usurp thy place. But if thou guard its secret chambers sure From vicious inmates and delights impure, Either his gratitude shall hold him fast, And keep him warm and filial to the last, Or if he prove unkind, (as who can say But being man, and therefore frail, he may,) One comfort yet shall cheer thine aged heart, Howe'er he slight thee, thou hast done thy part.
Oh barbarous ! wouldst thou with a Gothic hand Pull down the schools-what!-all the schools i'the land?
Or throw them up to livery-nags and grooms? Or turn them into shops and auction rooms? -A captious question, Sir, and yours is one, Deserves an answer similar, or none.
Wouldst thou, possessor of a flock, employ (Apprized that he is such) a careless boy, And feed him well, and give him handsome pay, Merely to sleep, and let them run astray? Survey our schools and colleges, and see A sight not much unlike my simile. From education, as the leading cause, The public character its colour draws, Thence the prevailing manners take their cast, Extravagant or sober, loose or chaste.
And though I would not advertise them yet, Nor write on each―This Building to be let, Unless the world were all prepared to embrace A plan well worthy to supply their place, Yet backward as they are, and long have been, To cultivate and keep the MORALS clean, (Forgive the crime) I wish them, I confess, Or better managed, or encouraged less.
SHOWING HOW HE WENT FARTHER THAN HE INTENDED, AND CAME SAFE HOME AGAIN.
JOHN GILPIN was a citizen
Of credit and renown,
A train-band Captain eke was he Of famous London town.
John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, -Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we No holiday have seen.
To-morrow is our wedding-day, 'And we will then repair Unto the Bell at Edmonton, All in a chaise and pair.
My sister and my sister's child, Myself and children three
Will fill the chaise, so you must ride
On horseback after we.
He soon replied—I do admire
Of womankind but one,
And you are she, my dearest dear,
Therefore it shall be done.
I am a linen-draper bold,
As all the world doth know, And my good friend the Callender Will lend his horse to go.
Quoth Mrs. Gilpin-That's well said; And for that wine is dear,
We will be furnish'd with our own, Which is both bright and clear.
John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife, O'erjoyed was he to find
That though on pleasure she was bent,
She had a frugal mind.
The morning came, the chaise was brought,
But yet was not allow'd
To drive up to the door, lest all
Should say that she was proud.
So three doors off the chaise was stay'd, Where they did all get in,
Six precious souls, and all agog
To dash through thick and thin.
Smack went the whip, round went the wheel, Were never folk so glad,
The stones did rattle underneath
As if Cheapside were mad.
John Gilpin at his horse's side
Seized fast the flowing mane,
And up he got in haste to ride,
But soon came down again.
For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he, His journey to begin,
When turning round his head he saw Three customers come in.
So down he came, for loss of time Although it grieved him sore,
Yet loss of pence, full well he knew, Would trouble him much more.
'Twas long before the customers Were suited to their mind,
When Betty screaming came down stairs, "The wine is left behind."
Good lack! quoth he, yet bring it me, My leathern belt likewise
In which I bear my trusty sword When I do exercise.
Now Mistress Gilpin, careful soul, Had two stone bottles found, To hold the liquor that she loved, And keep it safe and sound.
Each bottle had a curling ear, Through which the belt he drew, And hung a bottle on each side To make his balance true.
Then over all, that he might be Equipp'd from top to toe,
His long red cloak well brush'd and neat He manfully did throw.
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