National Gazette

Mr. Freneau,

Your inserting the following lines in the National Gazette, will much oblige,

Yours, &c.
A. R.

Addressed to a very young Girl.

Bright are thy beauties, Mira, mild thy mind,
Where sensibility and truth are joined.
Thy heart, where dignity and worth preside,
Charms without art, and triumphs without pride.
Ever attentive to discretion's trains,
The sounds of flattery thy ear disdains;
Yet thou wilt doubtless condescend to hear
Applause, the tribute of a heart sincere.
Weak is the wretch; detested be his lay,
Which aims from worth to lead the mind astray!
No laurel e'er can flourish on his brow;
Sense must his claim to glory disavow;
But should false taste his head with bays adorn,
Truth! by thy hand those trophies shall be torn,
Proving, what every candid breast must own,
That genuine praise results from thee alone.
Mild was thy infancy! parental care
Fondly essay'd to make thee good as fair.
Nor have their efforts been employ'd in vain!
Ah! Mira! still adorn the virgin train,
Till higher duties shall thy care demand,
And the lov'd youth shall grasp thy willing hand.
Howe'er remov'd from want's oppressive power,
Learn to respect misfortune's awful hour.
Down the mild stream of life, you gently glide,
Protected kindly now by wind and tide.
But shortly thou must quit the friendly shore,
See furious waves, and hear the tempest roar.
Lov'd in thy infancy, the verse attend,
Which shows no lover, but a real friend.
Love's brightest fires but for a moment shine,
Whilst friendship is immortal and divine.
Hear me this solemn, awful truth avow;
The child should to parental wisdom bow,
At home if justly scorn'd, who can applaud
The giddy maid who thoughtless flaunts abroad?
If thus neglected surely she must meet
Sneers in each house, and scorn in every street.
To thee, Discretion, may we ever bend,
Own thee as guide, and honor thee as friend.
By thee directed, Mira shall prevail,
Whilst e'en superior arts and knowledge fail.
And, when her hand the happy youth shall bless,
May ev'ry virtue crown her with success;
And teach her to reward with generous praise
The friendly heart, which dictated these lays.

Philadelphia, Jan. 14, 1792.