Spirit Of The Times

POETRY.
"Wife, Children, and Friends."
When the black-lettered list to the gods was presented
The list of what Fate for each mortal intends-
At the long string of ills a kind goddess relented,
and slipped in three blessings—Wife, Children and
Friends.
In vain surly Pluto declared he was cheated,
That Justice Divine could not compass her ends;
The scheme of man's penance he swore was defeated
For earth becomes heaven with—wife, children and
friends.
If the stock of our bliss is in stranger hands rested,
The fund, ill-secured, oft in bankruptcy ends.
But the heart issues bills, which are never protested,
When drawn on the firm of—wife, children and
friends.
The soldier, whose deeds live immortal in story,
When duty to far distant latitudes sends.
With transport would barter whole ages of glory,
For one happy hour with wife, children and friends.
Though valor still glows in life's waning embers,
The death-wounded tar, who his colors defends.
Drops a tear of regret, as he dying remembers,
How blest was his home, with wife, children, and
friends.
Though the spice-breathing gale, o'er his caravan
hovers,
Though around him Arabia's whole fragrance
descends,
The merchant still thinks of the woodbine that covers
The bower where he sat with wife children and
friends.
The day-spring of youth, still unclouded with sorrow,
Alone on itself for enjoyment depends,
But drear is the twilight of age, if it borrow
No warmth from the smiles of wife, children and
friends.
Let the breath of renown ever freshen and nourish
The laurel that o'er her fair favorites bends.
O'er me wave the willow, and long may it flourish.
Bedew'd with the tears of wife, children and friends.