The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

Poetry
FROM THE RHODE-ISLAND REPUBLICAN.
TO CHARITY.
HAIL, CHARITY! thou child of love!
Celestial honours from above,
And praises from the earth,
Commingled, shall thy steps attend,
And in one robe of beauty blend,
To deck and own thy worth.
Ten thousand throng around thy court,
Misfortune's subjects, and the sport
Of penury and want,
Bow at thy shrine, relate their grief,-
Then humbly ask a kind relief,
Which thou dost kindly grant.
My fancy wing'd towards thy door,
And saw the halt, the blind, the poor,
And heard their frequent sighs;
No friend, alas! but thee, to save
Themselves and children from the grave-
None else to bid them "rise!"
I heard the limping soldier crave
Supplies of thee. He once was brave
To fight his country's foes;
But now borne down by loads of care,
He seeks to find admittance where
Thy bounteous hands unclose.
Thou bid'st him on thy pillow rest-
To calm the sorrows of his breast,
And dream no more of pain;
Safely within thy favour'd dome,
To make a peaceful, quiet home,
And feel thy fostering reign.
Arion's musick not so sweet,
Nor yet MINERVA, more discreet;
Religion's brightest ray!
Whene'er thy tender smiles appear,
Or voice is heard-or hand is near,
Want can no longer stay.
I've seen thy form-I've heard thy voice,
Thine accents bade my heart rejoice;
I've dwelt near thine abode;
I've seen the widow weep for joy,
And notic'd in the orphan boy
What to thy name he ow'd.
Hail, CHARITY! thou child of love!
Celestial honours from above,
And praises from the earth,
Commingled, shall thy steps attend,
And in one robe of beauty blend,
To deck and own thy worth.
CORDELIA.