The New Hampshire Gazette And Republican Union

To Charles Swain

The graceful and the beautiful,
The gentle, kind, and fairy,
Together met to mould the form
And gift the mind of Mary.

There's nature in each careless curl:
In every grace a moral;
Her mouth—'tis Cupid's mouth—sweet girl,
And full of pearls and coral.

She's like a key-stone to an arch,
That consummates all beauty;
She's like the music to a march,
Which sheds a joy on duty!

All happy thoughts and feelings rife
Seem evermore to guide her;
The very ills and cares of life
Forget themselves beside her.

Each sweet expressive glance appears
Of Nature's best selection;
It took the world six thousand years
To perfect such perfection!

All gifts divine that could combine,
All charms of nymph or fairy,
Agreed to grace one beauteous face,
And witch the world with Mary.

She speeds as with wings; so fleet
No bird's could e'er surpass them;
Yet none can ever spy her feet,
Though 'tis believed she has them!

She lends a spell to every scene,
Her step makes winter vernal;
A something half divine, between
The earthly and eternal!