And well it may! For that is wealth In most men"s hands but splendid dross To purchase _friends_ who leave by _stealth_ Their friend, when he has found its loss.
Yet "tis I own, when rightly used, A goodly thing for you and me, Who can"t of h.o.a.rding be accused At least from all that I can see.
Then take what I most freely give-- A wish sincere that you may yet Return in health near us to live, An honest livelihood to get.
And may your partner live to share With you for years fresh joy and peace.
For this I urge an earnest prayer To G.o.d who makes my joys increase.
TO MR. COWHERD, FROM HIS FRIEND, H. S. LAYc.o.c.k.
[Perhaps my readers will have the goodness to pardon me if I here present them with an exact copy of a Rhyming Letter which I received in answer to the poem above from my much respected and greatly lamented friend, the late Dr. Layc.o.c.k, of Woodstock, Ont. I place it here because of the compliment he was kind enough to pay me on my rhyming abilities, and chiefly in relation to those Pieces to my Children. I candidly acknowledge that it was his opinion, so freely and perhaps flatteringly expressed, which weighed with me greatly as an inducement for giving so many of them in these pages.]
Dear friend, though a poor hand at rhymes, I"ll try In _kind_ to your _kind_ verses to reply.
Together we have pa.s.sed some happy hours, Pleasantly loitering in the Muses" bower; Not with the Bards who sing of Wine and Love, But those who can the n.o.bler Pa.s.sions move To finer sympathies, and by their art Instruct, amend as well as cheer the heart!
Such Bard our COWPER. Oft his pleasing strains Have won us to forget the cares and pains The world lays on us all; WORDSWORTH the same; And other bards besides _less known to fame;_ _Thyself,_ dear friend, amongst the rest. Thy rhymes Flow from a heart in tune with Nature"s chimes, And breathings of Sweet Home, Domestic joys, The opening graces of thy girls and boys, And themes like these _to Nature dear_ please all Whose souls like ours respond to Nature"s call.
Nature, to whom proud Art can _lend a grace,_ But whom if absent _Art can not replace!_
Take these poor lines in haste and sickness penned, As tribute from a warm and grateful friend, Who, though thy kindness he can not repay, Will ne"er forget thee, Cowherd, nor thy lay.
BRANTFORD, Nov. 16, 1854
TO MR. JAMES C----T
NOVEMBER, 1853.
"A friend in need"s a friend indeed."
My friend much respected, "tis hardly the thing That I on some subjects so often should sing, And yet never manage a rhyme to bestow On one whose great kindness I"d gratefully show.
It oft has been spoken, as oft has been penned That "It cannot be ever too late to amend."
And as I"m unconscious of lacking respect, Will do what I can to repair my neglect.
O, can I look back to the time of my need, When thou, under G.o.d, prov"dst a kind friend indeed, And feel no emotion my bosom to swell?
"Twere baseness of conduct too shocking to tell.
Time was when chill penury stared in my face, And I was made feel it almost a disgrace.
As a fruit of thy kindness that time has gone by, So I to be thankful would constantly try.
O, well I remember how often I thought My business endeavors would all come to naught; That I, "midst my toiling should surely stick fast, And most sad disappointment meet me at last.
The Lord sent thee to me at such time of trial, When exercised well with the grace Self-denial.
Thy kind way of speaking took from me my sadness, And left in its place a rich increase of gladness.
And oft since that time though a much chequered life Amidst this world"s bustle, its turmoil and strife My mind has been solaced with thoughts of thy love, Which does thy relation to Christ clearly prove.
Under the weakness of age thou art bending, Yet no doubt have I that the Lord is still sending The joy of His presence thy spirit to cheer, By doing thy duty while thou stayest here.
And Oh, may it please our kind Father and G.o.d Thy steps to support with his "Staff and his Rod;"
Then cause his bright Angels thy way to attend, And thus bring thee safely to Life-journey"s end.
May thy good example to those that remain, Be useful in showing Religion is gain, That they may still follow the path that Christ trod, And join thee in singing the praises of G.o.d.
TO THE CHRISTIANS OF BRANTFORD.
OCTOBER, 1853.
Christians of Brantford, list awhile, An humble Rhymer speaks to you.
Perhaps the fact may cause a smile, Though I speak not from motives vile, But with your interest full in view.
You are engaged in warfare great With that great sin which oft has made A loving husband full of hate, A young wife"s beauty quickly fade, And early death become her fate.
You have to grapple with that fiend That oft has made poor children weep, Bereft them too of every friend, Who would unto their wants attend-- When they were sick afford relief.
You are engaged in mortal strife With that huge serpent which ere now Has poisoned all the joys of life, Made many homes with discord rife, And sunk poor human nature low.
With him that oft has torn away The laurel from the Sons of Fame, Caused them from Wisdom"s paths to stray, Has turned to darkness their bright day, And covered them all o"er with shame.
Young as some are, all must have seen His potent arm stretched forth to strike As victims those who long had been Striving on human aid to lean.
Mind friends you never do the like!
Oh, have you thought upon his power, And learned how weak are mortal men When brought into temptation"s hour, And "storms arise and tempests lower?"
The _strong_ may even falter then.
And feeling weak have you been led To put your trust in G.o.d alone, Who with his bounteous hand hath fed You all your lives, and in the stead Of guilty man did sin atone?
If you have not done this before O flee, my dear young friends, away To Jesus Christ, the friend who bore Our sins, that he might us restore To G.o.d and Bliss and Endless Day.
TO THE SAME.
NOVEMBER, 1854.
Christians, arouse you! Quick, up and be doing!
The monster Intemperance stalks through our land!