(ALL BRAND NEW)
SUITABLE FOR AUTOGRAPH ALb.u.mS.
As free as fancy and reason, And writ for many a season; In neither spirit nor letter To aught but beauty a debtor.
INTRODUCTORY.
The reader knows His woes.
How oft "someone has blundered!"
How oft a thought Is caught, And rhyme and reason sundered!
With line and hook, Just look!
And see a swimming hundred-- A school of rhymes And chimes As free as summer air.
So, if you wish To fish, Please angle anywhere.
I.
Thou pet of modern art, Since I the spell have broken, Now on thy journey start, And gather many a token From many an honest heart, The best or thought or spoken.
II.
Go forth, thou little book, And seek that wondrous treasure, Affection"s word and look, Which only heaven can measure.
III.
This Alb.u.m comes a-tapping At many a friendly door; Yea, gently, gently rapping-- "Hast aught for me in store?
Dear Love and Truth I show, To point a life"s endeavor-- Thanks for thy heart! I go And bear it on forever."
IV.
"Whose name was writ in water!"
It was not so of Keats.
How many a son and daughter His gentle name repeats!
And Friendship and Affection Will keep thy name as bright, If Beauty give protection And wed thee to the Right.
V.
So you desire my heart!
Well, take it--and depart.
It is not cold and heavy, It is not light, Seeks to be right, And answers Beauty"s levy.
VI.
Be it a fable or rumor, Or an old device, "Tis true; gentle wit and humor Are as good as cold advice.
VII.
This dainty little Alb.u.m thine Is of a quality so fine That happy Laughter here may write, And all the pages still be white.
VIII.
There is no open mart In which to sell a heart, For none the price can pay; So mine I give away, Since I with it must part-- "Tis thine, my friend, for aye.
"Do I not feel the lack.
And want to get it back?"
No, no! for kindly Heaven A better one has given.
IX.
There is a cup, I know, Which, full to overflow, Has yet the s.p.a.ce to hold Its measure many fold; And when from it I drink, It is so sweet to think-- _What it retains is more Than all it held before_.
If you my riddle guess, You surely will confess The greater in the less, Which is our blessedness.
X.
Dost give away thy heart, With all its sweet perfume?
Angels dwell where thou art, The more, the greater room.
XI.
A life lost in a life-- True husband or true wife-- A life come back again As with a shining train.
XII.