?5 2 24.5, 
 
 POEM 
 
 DBTK" "-A-CIB CIj"CJ]BJ 
 
 'AifiicHK I'la/d, (Cinloun Socrnten, sed major 
 vei'Uas est." 
 
 k.''*-^ 
 
 Harrett it Broion. Frs. and BimlerSj 
 
OEM ON 
 
 RIENDSHIP. 
 

 (Copyright applied for.) 
 
BeieNDSHIP 'tis said is but a name, 
 f A chiltl of fancy and a dream, 
 
 A thing of air ; 
 A fleeting breath, a transient flame, 
 A sentiment, though it may seem 
 
 A whim, a caprice, a conceit — 
 Some veering notion of the mind, 
 A phosphor beam. 
 
 That lightens, still is void of heat. 
 The gleam of a Lagenian mine. 
 
 The hand in cordial welcome grasped, 
 The welcome given in friendship's name, 
 The tear of joy, 
 
 As one is to the bosom clasped, 
 Due praises to sincerity claim. 
 
 The heart that's rich in human love, 
 Whose sympathies are pure and strong 
 To rich and poor, 
 
 Who doth alike his goodness prove, 
 To him fit honors sure belong. 
 
 For life is life, and love is love. 
 And time still moves resistless on 
 From youth to age ; 
 
 And thus life's changeful web is wove. 
 And bad or ill the work is done. 
 
A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 Id tender youth young hearts are twined — 
 To-day their bosoms beat as one — 
 A day is fled ; 
 
 To-morrow, when it comes, may find 
 Of all that one delusion gone. 
 
 With grow^'ng years reflections come, 
 And youthful virtues lose their hue ; 
 The heart grows cold, 
 
 Bereft of buoyancy and bloom, 
 That time's recurring can't renew ; 
 
 And life opes fuller to the view, 
 
 And interest rises over all, 
 And points the way 
 That all with eagerness pursue. 
 
 He learns well her imperious call ; 
 
 And wealth and rank their charms display, 
 And life 's made opulent and fair, 
 And all must bow 
 
 To Fashion's and Custom's proud sway, 
 And worth must folly's gilding wear. 
 
 And days he lights on that unfold 
 The truth— he wonderingly sees 
 That every door 
 
 Is rigorously barred with gold, 
 And opens but to golden keys. 
 
 The world a solar system seems — 
 Each orb has its own destined path ; 
 And midst them all 
 
 Mammon blazes with golden beams, 
 From him its light each planet hath. 
 
A POEM ON FrilENDSniP, 
 
 And friendship has its limited range, 
 And must in that its orbit trace ; 
 Nor, comet-like, 
 
 Its own appointed sphere can change, 
 And wander into trackless space. 
 
 A home of passions is man's breast, 
 And self is first and what is his 
 Of passions strong ; 
 
 Nor are the strongest e'er the best, 
 Nor oft appears he as he is. 
 
 His heart is proud — ambition sits 
 
 There, and with striving power reigns. 
 Before his face 
 
 Wealth's every honored image flits. 
 Whilst he all meaner things disdains. 
 
 And stratagem and craft of power 
 In his proud aims each to succeed 
 Too oft employs ; 
 
 And in his path fair frindship's flower 
 Is trampled as a worthless weed. 
 
 He gladly grasps the hand above,* 
 And high regard will feel or feign— 
 E'er courts the great ; 
 
 For such a help or harm may prove. 
 And such regard he 's proud to gain. 
 
 Since humble lots the rich despise. 
 And poverty that 's shunned by all, 
 It must be rare 
 
 Their breasts can blend in friendly ties 
 The high and low, the great and small. 
 
A POEM ON FEIENDSniP, 
 
 Convention's barriors are made to rise, 
 And mutual hearts become estranged— 
 Their breasts grow cold ; 
 
 They' meet and scarcely recognize 
 
 Of each the feelings thus are changed. 
 
 Kindness will kindness e'er beget, 
 And hearts in union closer binds, 
 And kindness shown 
 
 To one that casually is met, 
 Kecipro.catiou oftenest finds. 
 
 The beasts that roam the field and wpod, 
 A sense of kindness to them shown, 
 Oft seem to feel. 
 
 And would return.it if they could. 
 As some to do so have been known. 
 
 Be rank, condition or what not, 
 
 The cause their own excuse to make, 
 'Tis rare the case. 
 
 That wanton wounds are e'er forgot, 
 That one still is obliged to take. 
 
 Eesontment still the breast will feel, 
 The unkind memory will bear 
 
 Through changing years — 
 
 The sore may fester and may heal, 
 But still a scar will e'er be there. 
 
 Though feebly may the voice be heard, 
 Of gratitude whispering of deeds 
 Of goodness done, 
 
 'Tis as a pleasant spoken word, 
 
 One hears yet still but lightly heeds. 
 
A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 And envy with a baleful eye, 
 Will see a merit not its own, 
 And hears with pain. 
 
 The praises it would fain deny, 
 
 To one who has more honored grown. 
 
 Content to live in ease and sloth — 
 And pleasures luxury supplies ; 
 The slave of sense 
 
 And passions gross that never doth 
 Aspire beyond sensual desires. 
 
 Ambition in another wakes. 
 
 In such a jealous pang, they view 
 Willi pain his hopes. 
 
 Reproached by efforts that he makes, 
 And honors won his labors due. 
 
 All higher meeds they would ddny, 
 
 Of self-denying toil refuse, 
 Nor would allow 
 The higher mounts any should try. 
 
 But like their own a life should choose. 
 
 And when their paths together lie, 
 And their vocations are the same, 
 And equal hopes 
 
 Enkindle in each breast and eye. 
 And each to equal triumphs aims, 
 
 A rivalry between them grows 
 Too oft, and takes a bitter root 
 In their feelings, 
 
 And marring mingles with their flow. 
 And bringeth forth an evil fruit. 
 
A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 That the rich attractious possess, 
 To draw about them many friends, 
 Clearly appears, 
 
 And that the poor have few, not less 
 To him that life's plan comprehends. 
 
 But oft dissimulation wears 
 
 The fair mask of sincerity — 
 And flattery 
 With'smiling lip and pleasing airs, 
 
 Seems t' express friendships true loyalty * 
 
 Wliile fortune favors ever found, 
 
 Mongst the faithful faithfulest, 
 Their good wishes 
 Scarcely will admit a bound, 
 
 Until subjected to the test. 
 
 Yet let the wheel another turn 
 
 Take, and misfortunes darkening frov/u, 
 Life's prosperous bloom 
 Wither and blast, and you may learn 
 
 What faith in friendship then abounds. 
 
 Like flies when all the honey's gone, 
 
 That came to share the sweet in swarms, 
 They all have flown 
 
 Away, and flown because alone, 
 
 Were vanished all the honey charms. 
 
 The votaries of pleasure wait 
 Upon her for her own dear sake, 
 Nor can forbear 
 
 Delights that rarely tire or sate. 
 And all lifes moments blissful make. 
 
A POEM ON FEIENDSHIP. 
 
 They live for their own happiness, 
 For sumptuous and sensual joys, 
 And that pursuit 
 
 Which offers not such more or less, 
 But little of their thought employs. 
 
 In fetes and balls and gay saloons, 
 
 Splendid happiness unalloyed, 
 They find and feel 
 That life confers no valued boons, 
 
 But such as may be thus enjoyed. 
 
 When pleasure, whose fair smiles they wooed, 
 With her voluptuous charms has fled. 
 Nor feel their hearts. 
 
 More her embracing joys diffused. 
 They quickly follow where she led. 
 
 Prosperity, it should appear. 
 Is no just scale to weigh friends in ; 
 Adversity 
 
 Alone can demonstrate it clear, 
 
 How true their professions have been. 
 
 As will a person's shadow close 
 Stick to him whilst in the sun's ray, 
 Bat when leaving 
 
 The light, into the shade he goes, 
 ' Twill vanish instantly away. 
 
 And those that once were proud to boast. 
 Of an acquaintance, and to claim 
 A near friendship. 
 
 Though none or slight, there was at most, 
 Now carelessly enquire his name. 
 
10 A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 Nor less the sterner sex than fair, 
 In one more than another clime, 
 Kigorously judge 
 
 What all the world seems to declare, 
 That poverty's ever a crime. 
 
 And 'mongst a fallen great man's foes. 
 Perhaps are none who use their power, 
 Whate'er it be, 
 
 To press and bear him down than those 
 Who flattered most in fortune's hour. 
 
 Indemnity they then require 
 
 For the regard that they have paid. 
 Grudgingly paid ; 
 
 That friendship's soul did not inspire 
 A tax that fortune on them laid. 
 
 And when he's down and all are free 
 
 To kick him, that do so incline, 
 
 As down he goes — 
 
 In kicking him they'll ever be 
 Sure to remember, "auld lang syne." 
 
 The second Charles' extravagance, 
 
 And dissolute misgovernment 
 By his barons, 
 Was viewed with much discountenance, 
 
 And murmurs waked and discontent. 
 
 With much good reasoning they complained 
 That a corrupt throng filled his court. 
 That of the tax 
 
 That by the nation was sustained, 
 Much was squandered for their support. 
 
A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 11 
 
 That to embezzling politicians, 
 
 A large proportion of it went, 
 And likewise on 
 Buffoons and foreign courtezans,. 
 
 As much more was unduly spent. 
 
 They reflected with resentment 
 
 And the deepest indignation, 
 That the kingdom. 
 Before so proud and independent, 
 
 Should subject be to French dictation. 
 
 For twenty years, these gentlemen, 
 Surly barons, loudly murmured 
 Against the king. 
 The hour of trial at length came, when 
 • Each man's loyalty was determined. 
 
 "When those by whom he seemed beloved. 
 Who shared his favors, proved untrue ; 
 And faithless these 
 
 Barons their devotion proved, 
 By rallying to the king's rescue ; 
 
 When even his Secretary of State, 
 
 And Lord Treasurers shrank from his side, 
 These stern, true men. 
 
 In an hour that seemed desperate. 
 Did for him the victory decide. 
 
 And likewise true to James they were. 
 
 And would a loyalty unyielding 
 To him have shown. 
 Could he have been got to forbear 
 
 Outraging their strongest feeling. 
 
12 A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 The lowly in their humble lot, 
 Doomed with poverty to contend, 
 And all its train 
 
 Of ills, scarce more than these have gofc 
 They're able to share with a friend. 
 
 Their wants, scarce more than appetites ; 
 
 Gross are their pleasures and but few — 
 The sum of life 
 Is but to live ; these its delights, 
 
 And these its difficulties, too. 
 
 In middle life a mean exists, 
 
 Blest with ease and sweet content. 
 Where simple faith 
 
 And human love sweetly subsist, 
 
 With life's pure, earnest purpose blent. 
 
 No rivalries or envious feuds 
 
 Kouse wicked passions in their breast ; 
 No dreams of power 
 On their balmy slumbers e'er intrude, 
 
 To mar the sweetness of their rest. 
 
 No strivings for ambition's goals 
 In fashions annals first to shine ; 
 Their peaceful lives 
 
 Its even tranquil tenor holds, 
 Happy, plenteous and benign. 
 
 In every walk, still there are those 
 Who cherish in their mutual breasts 
 Some gentle sparks, 
 
 And in the intimacy that grows 
 Between them, friendship seems confest. 
 
A POEM ON FEIENDSHIP. 13 
 
 If friendship's sentiment, divine 
 
 In its essence, purest, dearest, 
 
 Is found at all ; 
 
 That with no selfishness combines, 
 
 That friendship warms in woman's breast. 
 
 In that dire hour, the Saviour died 
 
 For man, Himself a ransom gave ; 
 Her faithful love 
 In woe and tears was testified — 
 
 Last from the cross, first at His grave. 
 
 The honored partner of man's life, 
 
 And formed that life to soothe and bless, 
 Nor mixing with 
 
 Its dark contentions and its strife, 
 A being of all loveliness. 
 
 Her bosom spotless, as is fair 
 
 Her face and form, that seem divine ; 
 True friendship's self 
 May purely be reflected there. 
 
 In vestal constancy enshrined. 
 
 Whate'er we are or may become, 
 
 1 o woman's plastic power is due 
 Virtues instilled ; 
 The holy influence of sweet home, 
 
 Life gives direction and its hue. 
 
 To build a city is not her's — 
 
 The province, to her own sphere schooled, 
 "Keepers at home," 
 A nobler doth the builders rears. 
 
 And formeth rulers and the ruled ; 
 
14 A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 ' And Her dear society, liow sweet — 
 What bliss diffuses in the heart ; 
 What is of Hfe 
 That seemeth perfect and complete, 
 Fair woman doth to it impart. 
 
 To life its soft refinement gives, 
 
 Its polish and its elegance, 
 Virtue, honor — 
 All whence true excellence derives 
 
 Its name, life's heavenly countenance. 
 
 Life's rosy light, delicious, fair, 
 
 For man's own happiness bestowed ; 
 How dark would be. 
 
 Without it, life sunk in despair — 
 Need say I, be she e'er adored. 
 
 But when her native softness's gone, 
 By time and crosses stolen away, 
 And her charms are 
 
 Fled, one by one, perhaps that won 
 Fond suitors in a better day ; 
 
 And black, malignant feelings creep 
 
 Through her heart, and in her blood, and feed 
 Eevengeful thoughts 
 
 That in black passion slime vats steep, 
 How wicked, heartless then indeed. 
 
 Some one is said to have observed. 
 
 Against my foes I can contend. 
 
 E'er on my guard 
 
 From him alone, I'd be preserved — 
 
 Him that is numbered as my friend. 
 
A POEM ON FEIENDSHIP. 15 
 
 The interest that a friend may feel 
 
 In the well being of a friend. 
 Is very well ; 
 And yet that interest for his weal 
 
 May prove pernicious in the end. 
 
 Since all the cost of good advice 
 
 Is but the breath consumed in it, 
 'Tis freely given, 
 Which seems the settled current price 
 
 Of aid, that in that form is lent. 
 
 The case may not be understood, 
 
 Or seen in a dehberate view. 
 And hence advice 
 That is not altogether good. 
 
 Is given and is followed, too.. 
 
 The will might not in any wise 
 
 Be wanting ; 't would be truly glad 
 The way to point. 
 In any case that might arise. 
 
 But still the judgment might be bad. 
 
 No mischief worthier of our fear 
 
 And care can any where be found. 
 Than in the name 
 Of friendship, he that draweth near. 
 
 With heart deceitful and unsound. 
 
 The smiles that wreathe his pleasant face, 
 The cordial warmth that seems to glow 
 In his bosom. 
 
 Win but to a fatal embrace, 
 
 In which he strikes a deadher blow. 
 
16 A POEM ON PEIENDSHIP. 
 
 Soft avenues unto the heat, 
 
 With a persuasive skill are wrought, 
 And confidence 
 Attained is used with fairest art, 
 
 To gain the evil end that's sought. 
 
 Beguiled into the fond belief 
 
 Of friendship, one feels secure in 
 Giving full trust, 
 
 And wakes to find past all relief, 
 Fully compassed is his ruin. 
 
 The betrayal of the Savior shows. 
 How well could be enacted this 
 Deceitful art, 
 
 When Judas singled Him to his foes, 
 He chose to do it with a kiss. 
 
 Too much it would be to assert, 
 
 That worth and virtue have no friend, 
 Though very poor, 
 
 They may in time gain their desert. 
 But oft they strive not to the end. 
 
 Some merit will itself make known, 
 Its claims completely justify, 
 And still some will. 
 
 When its pretensions clear are shown, 
 And some will not its right deny. 
 
 Full many a flower is born to blush 
 Unseen, and on the desert air 
 Its sweetness waste, 
 
 And many murmurous fountains gush. 
 And dies unheared their music there. 
 
A POEM ON FEIENDSHIP. IJ 
 
 And gems adorn the ocean caves, 
 
 That might on beauty's bosom shine, 
 In lustrous light, 
 Hidden beneath the rolling waves 
 
 As gold in an unexplored mine. 
 
 Yet numerous examples tell, 
 
 Of men of no fortune or birth. 
 But well deserved, 
 That were rewarded prompt and well, 
 
 Alone for meritorious worth. 
 
 As kissing doth by favor go. 
 
 And friendship's suffrage is the grant 
 Of most favors, 
 No great many to those can flow 
 
 Who this essential interest want. 
 
 And some great souls, untimely wise, 
 
 That sought to bless their time and race— 
 Their countrymen — 
 
 Saw fit their worth to recognize. 
 
 By granting them shame and disgrace, 
 
 Oallileo, Dante, a host. 
 
 Standing in a coming age, made 
 Themselves reproach ; 
 Their greatness, proved at such a cost, 
 
 That on their country now is laid, 
 
 Names, that in the dark, distant past, 
 Like stars athwart the black gulf beam 
 With dimless ray ; 
 
 And while earth rolls till time be past, 
 Bright, solitary, there will gleam. 
 
1^ A POEM ON FEIENDSHIP. 
 
 He sure deserves a double praise, 
 
 Who breaks the bars of circumstancej* 
 And grappling with 
 
 His destiny himself shall raise 
 
 To higher plains and maketh chance. 
 
 There are who find a right in might — 
 That that is right, whatever is, 
 
 Or right or wrong, 
 But far they go to find that right 
 
 Infinity "is" compasses. 
 
 The ideas that in life obtain. 
 
 Give currency to much that's drosS'. 
 
 It happens oft. 
 That tinsel precedence will gaia 
 
 To gold that is without a gloss ; 
 
 And things confounding, as is done, 
 A tangled skein life doth present. 
 
 The labyrinth 
 They thread, by some stran guided on. 
 
 But scarce know by what clue they went^ 
 
 Howbeit, the great world victors test, 
 
 A relic time doth inherit. 
 In endeavors 
 Success, if not alone, 's the best 
 
 Criterion of one's merit. 
 
 Look on life's vineyard, broad and fair j 
 Behold the toilers toiling there ; 
 The rewards are, 
 
 They as toils each has had to bear, 
 
 Have not the great workers their share^ 
 
A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. ^9 
 
 Then be life as it is or will, 
 
 Where Liberty doth her towers raise, 
 And unenthralled, 
 Man may cherish glory's thrill. 
 
 And fearless tread in all her ways. 
 
 The summit may be gained where stands 
 
 Fame's temple, shining from afar, 
 
 And with the wreath, 
 
 There held by a fair, beckoning hand, 
 
 In life be crowned immortal there. 
 
 For usefulness to qualify 
 
 One, wheresoe'er his efforts ten d, 
 First let him learn 
 To on himself alone rely, 
 
 And not upon his friends depend. 
 
 If he is doing very well. 
 
 He'll find assistance easy got ; 
 But if his case 
 Be that necessities impel, 
 
 He may get help, but likeliest not 
 
 A fountain gushing in a rill, 
 
 With trembling fear starts on its course, 
 Through beds of moss, 
 But swelHng as it goes, it will 
 
 Be vast at mouth as small at source. 
 
 The gods help those themselves that help ; 
 
 If one lay shoulder to the wheel 
 With faithful might, 
 A waiting power it may develop, 
 
 The load to move he then may feel. 
 
20' A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 Impossible ! what does it mean 
 
 To idle sit, arms folded up, 
 Micawber-like, 
 Wait till an occasion's seen, 
 
 To wait for something to turn up. 
 
 What did great Hercules perform 
 
 That made him heir to deathless fame ? 
 And who, with but 
 
 A simple club alone was armed, 
 Labors incredible to name. 
 
 Despair itself s an incubus, 
 
 The hideous night-mare of the soul i 
 Begin to stir, 
 And instantly its fetters burst, 
 
 And thou art freed from its control. 
 
 With means abundant and at hand. 
 Quite every thing the work requires^ 
 And all powers seem 
 
 To favor and the thing demand, 
 In that what difficulty lies. 
 
 In peace and war what has been done. 
 
 With means unequal to the task. 
 
 Peaceful conquests, 
 
 Eenowned victories in war won. 
 Go thou to Glory's self and ask. 
 
 An army of a million men, 
 
 Sweep down upon a feeble few j 
 Against such odds 
 
 That seems it useless to contend, 
 And beat them as they ought to do. 
 
A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 21 
 
 A handful in the desperate luck 
 
 Of battle meet a shining host 
 In fierce conflict, 
 And from their banners victory pluck, 
 
 And they a high renown may boast. 
 
 An Argonautic voyage was made, 
 
 No great thing in the ancient past, 
 But Columbia's 
 Dawning like to have been delayed, 
 
 By obstacles from first to last. 
 
 Though generals all the one who took 
 
 His start a private in the ranks. 
 His deserts proved, 
 By gallant, meritorious conduct, 
 
 More wins his country's praise and thanks. 
 
 The humor of the time is deemed, 
 
 To give merit estimation, 
 
 And that which should 
 Be high and honorably esteemed, 
 
 Meets with no appreciation. 
 
 As fashion is seen to possess 
 
 A wide and undisputed sway, 
 And authority 
 Gives each prevailing mode of dress. 
 
 That it enjoys a transient day ; 
 
 And the style, when new, all admired. 
 
 And which then could be seen all in 
 Or aiming at. 
 Before a new one has retired, 
 
 And in utter contempt fallen. 
 
A POEM ON FEIENDSHIP, 
 
 As in the winter of the year 
 
 Nature a native bleakness wears, 
 But when the spring 
 
 Keturns again with sunny cheer, 
 In soft robes she again appears. 
 
 The ancients had an iron age. 
 
 And folio vv^ed that an. age of brass, 
 A silver age, 
 
 One of gold, which various engage 
 The thoughts as in review they pass. 
 
 One sees man in his every stage, 
 Each higher advance by him gained, 
 Until arrived 
 
 At that illustrious, splendid age, 
 
 That seemed perfection had attained. 
 
 He sees man in his first rude state. 
 
 Ere scarcely any useful arts 
 To him were known. 
 Left to himself t' originate 
 
 The first, whence all improvement starts. 
 
 He sees the fine arts take their rise 
 
 When liberal governments were reached, 
 And scope allowed 
 
 Men's faculties and energies. 
 
 And their exertions unimpeached. 
 
 When states to wealth and ease had grown, 
 And men aspired to polished life 
 And liberal views. 
 
 And that encouragement was shown 
 Which taste and genius most required. 
 
A POEM ON FEIENDSHIP. 23 
 
 And thus the fine arts thrived and flourished 
 
 In the expanding, fostering power 
 Of patronage ; 
 In luxury and affluence nourished, 
 
 They bloomed to an immortal flower. 
 
 Yet all these glories were destined 
 
 To be eclipsed in hideous night ; 
 These noble arts, 
 Unblest, in dark decay dechned. 
 
 And that fair tree withered with blight. 
 
 In the dark ages that ensued 
 
 These beams of glorious light were quenched ; 
 Taste fled away ; 
 Genius, persecuted, pursued 
 
 Before, the face of power, blenched, 
 
 And hid her gifts ; in sorrow sighed 
 
 O'er broken images and forms 
 That enshrined the 
 Divinity ; she was denied 
 
 All but the power to feel her charms. 
 
 O, wild and ruthless mind of man ! 
 
 O, fierce and selfish, brutish power ! 
 O, ignorance ! 
 Dullness, stupidity, that can 
 
 Not see true light or feel its power ! 
 
 "What untold loss hast thou entailed 
 
 Upon this fair, light-favored world ! 
 What destruction. 
 Costly ruin to be bewailed, 
 
 Wher've been thy black banners unfurled. 
 
24: A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 What powers cramped and checked forever ; 
 
 What burning bosoms trampled out ; 
 What rarest gifts, 
 Genius hallowed, yet that were ne'er, 
 
 Howe'er inspired, allowed to show it. ■ 
 
 Bufan exemplification 
 
 Of that curse on this devil-smitten, 
 Devil-claimed earth — "thou 
 Shalt not" — O, godless declaration ! 
 
 "Be wise above what is written." 
 
 Art thou a novice in the world ? 
 
 Or hast thou ope'd thine eyes to see 
 Of all mankind. 
 Upon this moving planet whirled, 
 
 How very little some can be ? 
 
 In England's Second Charles' reign, 
 
 A decided and marked change came o'er 
 The literary 
 
 Sky, as earth touched with life again, 
 From the preceding face it wore. 
 
 As in friendship must earnestness 
 Forever be the breath and soul. 
 So in all life 
 
 The highest worth bears its impress 
 Whereby its identity is told. 
 
 See great Cromwell, the blacksmith king, 
 Who sat upon the English throne. 
 Whose honored fame 
 
 The muse of poetry will sing. 
 If but for his success alone. 
 
A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 25 
 
 In him what earnestness there dwelt — 
 
 How hated he sham and pretense — 
 He had a soul 
 Whose power by all was known and felt, 
 
 And sprang from thence his influence. 
 
 And with the same sincerity 
 
 He inspired his men, that fierce, grim 
 Battle zeal that led 
 Through terrible slaughter to victory, 
 
 Wildly fired by their battle hymn. 
 
 ** Paint me, wrinkles and all," said he 
 
 To an artist who undertook 
 His portrait ; how. 
 Even on canvas, he scorned to be 
 
 Given any but his natural look. 
 
 An age that falls on sham and show, 
 
 Mere pretense and speciosity, 
 Is a descent 
 That lowers men to grades below, 
 
 As they or theirs will sometime see. 
 
 'Tis aptly said great men have wills, 
 
 Small ones only wishes — one goes 
 To his plans with 
 A ceaseless purpose that fulfills ; 
 
 Th' other tries feebly, and foregoes. 
 
 Like a mighty river doth he move 
 
 With power and majesty his own 
 Difficulties, 
 As only frail obstructions prove 
 
 In its resistless current thrown. 
 
26 A POEM ON FKIENDSHIPo 
 
 Who are the great — who are the small — 
 Who are the rich — who are the poor ? 
 The man who has 
 
 Greatness of soul, him great I call, 
 Whose heart is rich, is rich — no more, 
 
 Integrity — yeracity — '- 
 
 Simple virtues ; at the same time, 
 The world must own 
 Them in true character to be 
 
 The root of all that is sublime. 
 
 " The rank is but the guinea's stamp ;" 
 
 No seat in legislative hall, 
 No curule chair. 
 No wealth can free him from the cramp 
 
 That makes him irredeemably small. 
 
 The merit that a friend befits 
 
 Must be by virtue ratified ; 
 For true friendship 
 She will not to subsist permit 
 
 Till it by that sure test is tried. 
 
 Keligion may not yet have blest 
 
 The life with her pure stamp and seal. 
 But if honor 
 
 Her signet on it hath imprest, 
 
 That friendship will be pure and real. 
 
 Keligion oft a hindrance is, 
 
 A barrier is to friendly ties ; 
 Questions of faith. 
 Of which each deems the right one his^ 
 
 To direst feuds have given rise, 
 
A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. . 27 
 
 Nor. politicians always meet 
 
 On friendship's unembarrassed ground, 
 With the good will 
 And that near amity complete 
 
 In which a friendship should be bound. 
 
 Congenial tastes that may unite 
 
 A similar education, 
 
 Prepare the way 
 And coalescingly invite 
 
 To that agreeable relation. 
 
 If circumstances should concur, 
 
 Nor to preclude it should be some 
 Artificial 
 Canon against it to demur, 
 
 Enduring friends they may become. 
 
 Some noble instances we have 
 
 Of friendships that in every age 
 Immortal shone, 
 That memory '11 from oblivion save 
 
 To bloom upon tlie deathless page. 
 
 But who they were or what they were, 
 More than that they were lasting friends. 
 For a great part 
 
 The records of those facts are bare ; 
 No inquiry much that way extends. 
 
 A selfish nature ill invites 
 
 To friendship's clasp, or any other ; 
 Intent on self 
 And his exaggerated rights. 
 
 He scarce can entertain another's. 
 
28 A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 In God's great law, not any where 
 To reason's eye can it be shown 
 That aught that is 
 
 In this all useful world so fair 
 Existesth for itself alone. 
 
 Meanness may ever vainly hope 
 
 Accord with friendship — 'twill mildew 
 The fairest flower 
 
 That ever did its petals ope 
 
 To affection's fragrant light and dew. 
 
 Great hearts are said, like the ocean. 
 Never to congeal — so, to be 
 A faithful friend. 
 
 Which is as refined a notion — 
 The true image of deity — 
 
 Thy friend with circumspection choose. 
 And having made the election, 
 Says one, see that 
 
 No disrespect of yours shall lose 
 Or enfeeble his affection. 
 
 Hardly should one flatter himself 
 
 That friendship gives to him the right 
 To a friend to 
 
 Speak unpleasant things — 'twere well if 
 That truth were better kept in sight. 
 
 Of Socrates it hath survived, 
 
 Who perished to promote what ends? 
 He said, being asked 
 Why in so small a house he lived, 
 
 " I wish I could fill it with friends," 
 
A POEM ON FBIENDSHTP. 
 
 Be true to thyself— as we've got 
 
 It, in life is a noble plan 
 By which to live ; 
 And true to thyself, thou canst not 
 
 Be false to any other man. 
 
 A sweet poet says that he 
 
 Would never number any one 
 Among his friends. 
 Who, wanting sensibility, 
 
 Would needless trample on a worm. 
 
 In the immature, green age of youth 
 The young connections lightly form ; 
 The young breast then 
 
 With generosity and truth. 
 And life's bright hopes and dreams is warm. 
 
 At that blest undiscerning age 
 All's fair in life that they have met ; 
 Eear and distrust. 
 
 Not learned from its experienced page, 
 After to be read with regret ; 
 
 Without a formal rule to guide. 
 Attachments form— nor how or why, 
 They know nor think. 
 
 Which may a length of years abide, 
 Or early may take wings and fly. 
 
 Familiarity, 'tis said 
 
 By an old proverb, breeds contempt— 
 A martyr truth 
 Which oft to bad results has led, 
 
 Nor any seem from it exempt. 
 
30 A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 To prove by thumps upon his back 
 How one esteems a friend, is not 
 The strongest proof ; 
 
 It savors more of manners slack, 
 And slack authority forms have got. 
 
 And some great liberties will take, 
 And on the feelings far encroach 
 A friend's license ; 
 
 Their ruthless jests will on him break, 
 Caprice determines all approach. 
 
 And thus in some unguarded hour, 
 Presuming on the goodly strength 
 Of that esteem 
 
 Which long had stood as some great tower. 
 It falls prostrate with shattered length. 
 
 "A friend in need's a friend indeed," 
 When such is found — a generous hand 
 When help it gives. 
 
 Will timely give to one in need ; 
 Its value this will oft demand. 
 
 " As he gives twice who promptly gives," 
 " Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove 
 Unkind," whate'er 
 
 They be, from whence their worth derive. 
 The future should itself approve. 
 
 A kindness should not be ignored — 
 Time should not have the power to blot 
 It from the mind ; 
 
 But when a favor is restored, 
 It properly may be forgot. 
 
A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 31 
 
 As man is in his nature frail, 
 
 Some imperfections must be seen, 
 Which remembered 
 For his excuse, should e'er avail 
 
 When well he is believed to mean. 
 
 Some little faults away explained, 
 
 Some little faults endured, and some 
 Passed over as 
 Foibles, and lo, sound is maintained, 
 
 A dear friendship else to end come. 
 
 And should friendship be vainly sought. 
 Or should deceitful prove when found, 
 Not all is vain. 
 
 In consequence should it be thought. 
 Though sought not on forbidden ground. 
 
 Such might an illustration find 
 
 In a good story that is told 
 Of a landlord. 
 Genial and jocular inclined — 
 
 A good man, generous and whole-souled, 
 
 A man called for breakfast late — 
 
 'Twas for him hastily prepared. 
 And our landlord 
 Seeing that it was not first-rate. 
 
 Numerous apologies ofiered. 
 
 The eater plied his knife and fork 
 
 In busy silence, nor by look 
 Or any act. 
 But obvious motions at his work. 
 
 Of " mine host " the least notice took ; 
 
A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 Who thereat being irritated, 
 
 His strain apologetic changed, 
 And his remarks 
 Somewhat warmly perorated 
 
 In words to this effect that ranged : 
 
 Apologies enough now, sir, 
 
 I've made, and more, too, than were due, 
 Considering 
 The time, and all, and who it's for — 
 
 Now understand that I am through. 
 
 And, sir, let me tell you further, 
 I have several times, if not oftener, 
 Seen a breakfast 
 
 That was worse looking and dirtier. 
 And a h — 11 of a sight smaller. 
 
 The hungry one his tools laid down, 
 
 And looking at him modestly 
 Asked, " is that true ?" 
 "Yes," came. "Then," he in voice profound 
 
 Said, " d— d if you haven't out-traveled me !" 
 
 Exalted sentiment ! the sweet 
 
 That, mingling with the ills of life, 
 Can soothe the heart 
 
 Smarting from trials that it meets. 
 And crosses in life's bloodless strife. 
 
 " Even this will pass o'er," Solomon 
 
 Gave to a friend for a motto, 
 
 To render him 
 
 Humble when prosperity's sun " 
 
 Was high, and strong when 'twas low. 
 
A POE]\t ON FRIENDSHIP. 33 
 
 What comfort to the weary one, 
 
 When worn with grief and bowed with care, 
 To have a friend 
 To whom in trouble he may come, 
 
 And who in all his woe will share ; 
 
 On whom for help he can rely, 
 
 For sober counsel and advice — 
 Whose sympathies 
 Renewed assurance to supply 
 
 And hope revive still doth suflSce ; 
 
 To whom in perfect confidence 
 
 His inmost breast he may lay bare, 
 Nor ever fear 
 The trust will e'er escape from thence, 
 
 But faithfully be guarded there. 
 
 Such is friendship, and the ties 
 
 With which it hearts together binds — 
 A tender bond, 
 Which they with carefulness should prize 
 
 About whose bosoms it entwines. 
 
 For oft some trivial thing will prove, 
 
 That seemeth to impart some wrong, 
 A sundering blow 
 To ties that strengthening years had wove, 
 
 And with dire hate their breasts deform. 
 
 " Time bringeth healing on its wings" — 
 
 The bud time bringeth to the tree — 
 Time bringeth back 
 The tender robes that clothe the spring. 
 
 But friendship broke to you nor me. 
 
34 A POEM ON FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 A tender flower, it requires 
 
 Favor of genial light and shade. 
 And a kind soil ; 
 
 And balmy wants nature supplies, 
 And then 'twill never die nor fade. 
 
y 
 
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