Juniata Sentinel And Republican

Tell me not in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
Dost thou never eat cucumbers?
Never with the colic cream?
Life is real! Life is earnest!
Thou'lt believe it in thy soul,
When with inward heat thou burnest,
And thine eyes in anguish roll;
When no joyance, naught but sorrow
Finds thy heart from day to day;
While, each following to-morrow,
Still the penalty thou pay.
Life is long and health is fleeting;
It may leave thee any day;
Then be careful of thine eating—
Throw all cucumbers away.
In the world's broad field of produce,
Can'st no vegetable find,
Which, while not to health so odious,
Shall be yet unto thy mind?
Take naught hurtful, howe'er pleasant;
(By such things is illness bred.)
Thou mayst relish it at present;
Soon thou'lt mourn with aching head.
Lives of healthy folks remind us
We may all our lives be well,
If no folly ever blind us
To eat noxious things pell-mell.
If thou know this, tell another,
Let him likewise tell a friend;
That small fool may save his brother
Hearing, may be saved from pain.
Let us then be up and doing,
Hearts against cucumbers set;
And the sicknesses they're brewing
Let no thoughtful mortal get!

Madelon.