O! teach my willing heart the way
To take thy mercies right!
Though dazzling splendour, pomp, and show,
My fortune has denied,
Yet more than grandeur can bestow,
Content hath well supplied.
I envy no one's birth or fame,
His titles, train, or dress;
Nor has my pride e'er stretch'd its aim,
Beyond what I possess.
I ask and wish not to appear
More beauteous, rich, or gay:
Lord, make me wiser ev'ry year,
THE TURKEY AND THE ANT.-A FABLE.
In other men we faults can spy,
And blame the mote that dims their eye,
Each little speck and blemish find,
To our own stronger errors blind.
A turkey, tir'd of common food,
Forsook the barn, and sought the wood;
Behind her ran her infant train,
Collecting here and there a grain.
"Draw near, my birds," the mother cries, "This hill delicious fare supplies;
Behold the busy negro race,
See, millions blacken all the place!
Fear not; like me with freedom eat,
An ant is most delightful meat.
How bless'd, how envied were our life,
Could we but 'scape the poult'rer's knife?
But man, curs'd man, on turkeys preys,
And Christmas shortens all our days:
Sometimes with oysters we combine,
Sometimes assist the sav'ry chine;
From the low peasant to the lord,
The turkey smokes on ev'ry board.
Sure men for gluttony are curst,
Of the seven deadly sins the worst.”
An ant, who climb'd beyond her reach, Thus answer'd from the neighb'ring beech: "Ere you remark another's sin,
Bid thy own conscience look within :
Control thy more voracious bill,
Nor for a breakfast nations kill."
THE SWEETS OF CONTENTMENT.
No glory I covet, no riches I want,
Ambition is nothing to me;
The one thing I beg of kind Heaven to grant,
Is a mind independent and free.
With passion unruffled, untainted with pride,
By reason my life let me square:
The wants of my nature are cheaply supplied;
And the rest is but folly and care.
The blessings which Providence freely has lent,
I'll justly and gratefully prize;
While sweet meditation and cheerful content
Shall make me both healthful and wise.
In the pleasures the great man's possessions display,
Unenvied I'll challenge my part;
For ev'ry fair object my eyes can survey
Contributes to gladden my heart.
How vainly, through infinite trouble and strife,
The many their labours employ,
Since all that is truly delightful in life
Is what all, if they please, may enjoy!
THE HARE AND TORTOISE.-A FABLE.
A forward hare, of swiftness vain,
The genius of the neighb'ring plain,
Would oft deride the drudging crowd ;
For geniuses are ever proud.
He'd boast his flight 'twere vain to follow,
For dog and horse he'd beat them hollow;→
Nay, if he put forth all his strength,
Outstrip his brethren half a length.
A tortoise heard his vain oration,
And vented thus his indignation:
"O puss! it bodes thee dire disgrace
When I defy thee to the race.
Come, 'tis a match: nay, no denial,
I lay my shell upon the trial."
'Twas 'done' and 'done,' all fair, ‘a bet,”
Judges prepared, and distance set.
The scampering hare outstripp'd the wind,
The creeping tortoise lagg'd behind,
And scarce had pass'd a single pole
had almost reach'd the goal.
"Friend tortoise," quoth the jeering hare,
"Your burden's more than you can bear;
To help your speed it were as well
That I should ease you of your shell:
Jog on a little faster, pr'ythee:
I'll take a nap, and then be with thee."
The tortoise heard his taunting jeer,
But still resolv'd to persevere;
On to the goal securely crept,
While puss, unknowing, soundly slept.
The bets were won, the hare awoke,
When thus the victor tortoise spoke:
"Puss, though I own thy quicker parts,
Things are not always done by starts;
You may deride my awkward pace,
But slow and steady wins the race."
SWALLOW! that on rapid wing
Sweep'st along in sportive ring,
Now here, now there, now low, now high,
Chasing keen the painted fly ;-
Could I skim away with thee
Over land and over sea,
What streams would flow, what cities rise,
What landscapes dance before mine eyes!
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