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Poem
May 12, 1758
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A poetic letter to the New Hampshire Gazette publisher from April 30, 1758, presenting verses expressing the sentiments of a large family of 14 or 15 children, inspired by their names and circumstances, with religious and moral themes, including biblical references to Genesis and Revelation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
92%
Excellent
Full Text
April 30th 1758.
To the Publisher of the New Hampshire Gazette.
Please to insert in your publick Paper, for the Entertainment of both Parents and Children, what follows (as in Representation) of the Sentiments, &c. of a large Family of Children; on Occasion of their several Names, and Some other distinguishing Circumstances-- In doing which, you will (I doubt not) gratify many of your constant Readers.
We're of one common stock:
Or fourteen, or fifteen;
Tho' we must be allow'd to speak,
For some, that are not seen.
Tho' first, and last. (not visible)
And mostly out of mind;
We rest in hope, to rise with those.
That are with GOD, most kind!
Of all the twelve, whom Jesus chose,
John, did most worthy prove;
On Jesus's bosom, for to rest;
For he excell'd in love.
To th' partner of my cares and joys;
May I a blessing prove;
O may we both, to GOD, draw near,
In pray'rs, with faith and love.
To keep in memory.
My worthy ancestors;
I wear the honourable name,
That signifies a Pearl!
If in my youth, by wisdom's rule.
I choose like one, with wisdom fill'd;
With joy, I shall possess my choice;
For there's no pow'r, can me bereave.
Witness to Christ, chaste Anna gave,
By th' inspiration of the Lord;
Should I him slight, whom God proclaims
Salvation, I can never have.
If high in place, my lot should be,
'Mong sons of men, if nothing worth;
I must forever, share with them,
Who than the Lord, love nothing less.
On righteousness, let me my love,
At wisdom's call. in season place;
So shall I prove, my love to God;
And meetness for, a fav'rite mate.
My name, is for memorial!
O may I not unworthy prove,
To be remember'd of my GOD;
Of him, who is eternal love!
To equal them, in ev'ry thing,
For present exercise;
I hope in time. to act a part,
The blessed Jesus does approve.
To comfort all. my friends,
Nor let it give them cause of grief,
Tho' I am young, and of small worth
Tho' I am least. and last of all.
I hope (thro' favour of my GOD)
How many yield themselves.
To needless, pressing cares?
When ah! the necessary thing.
Is hardly made, secure.
Let my ambition be:
My character to see.
That will proclaim me wise!
I'm nameless in my father's house,
To weigh but very light!
MENE MENE. TEKEL-
Being almost Dead, in birth;
But he that made me, what I am;
O let us mindful be,
Of things, of greatest weight;
Let weigh'd in th' ballance, we be found
Of Prince or State. we dare not write,
But Christ will come, like as a thief;
Me sav'd, in th' day of death!
Oh! know and mind it well.
37th Genesis, 9th. The Sun and the Moon, and the eleven Stars made Obeisance to me. Verse 10th. Shall I and my Mother, and thy Brethren, indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the Earth?
12th Revelations, I. There appeared a great Wonder in Heaven. a Woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her Feet, and upon her Head a Crown of twelve Stars.
Farewell.
To the Publisher of the New Hampshire Gazette.
Please to insert in your publick Paper, for the Entertainment of both Parents and Children, what follows (as in Representation) of the Sentiments, &c. of a large Family of Children; on Occasion of their several Names, and Some other distinguishing Circumstances-- In doing which, you will (I doubt not) gratify many of your constant Readers.
We're of one common stock:
Or fourteen, or fifteen;
Tho' we must be allow'd to speak,
For some, that are not seen.
Tho' first, and last. (not visible)
And mostly out of mind;
We rest in hope, to rise with those.
That are with GOD, most kind!
Of all the twelve, whom Jesus chose,
John, did most worthy prove;
On Jesus's bosom, for to rest;
For he excell'd in love.
To th' partner of my cares and joys;
May I a blessing prove;
O may we both, to GOD, draw near,
In pray'rs, with faith and love.
To keep in memory.
My worthy ancestors;
I wear the honourable name,
That signifies a Pearl!
If in my youth, by wisdom's rule.
I choose like one, with wisdom fill'd;
With joy, I shall possess my choice;
For there's no pow'r, can me bereave.
Witness to Christ, chaste Anna gave,
By th' inspiration of the Lord;
Should I him slight, whom God proclaims
Salvation, I can never have.
If high in place, my lot should be,
'Mong sons of men, if nothing worth;
I must forever, share with them,
Who than the Lord, love nothing less.
On righteousness, let me my love,
At wisdom's call. in season place;
So shall I prove, my love to God;
And meetness for, a fav'rite mate.
My name, is for memorial!
O may I not unworthy prove,
To be remember'd of my GOD;
Of him, who is eternal love!
To equal them, in ev'ry thing,
For present exercise;
I hope in time. to act a part,
The blessed Jesus does approve.
To comfort all. my friends,
Nor let it give them cause of grief,
Tho' I am young, and of small worth
Tho' I am least. and last of all.
I hope (thro' favour of my GOD)
How many yield themselves.
To needless, pressing cares?
When ah! the necessary thing.
Is hardly made, secure.
Let my ambition be:
My character to see.
That will proclaim me wise!
I'm nameless in my father's house,
To weigh but very light!
MENE MENE. TEKEL-
Being almost Dead, in birth;
But he that made me, what I am;
O let us mindful be,
Of things, of greatest weight;
Let weigh'd in th' ballance, we be found
Of Prince or State. we dare not write,
But Christ will come, like as a thief;
Me sav'd, in th' day of death!
Oh! know and mind it well.
37th Genesis, 9th. The Sun and the Moon, and the eleven Stars made Obeisance to me. Verse 10th. Shall I and my Mother, and thy Brethren, indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the Earth?
12th Revelations, I. There appeared a great Wonder in Heaven. a Woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her Feet, and upon her Head a Crown of twelve Stars.
Farewell.
What sub-type of article is it?
Verse Letter
Hymn
What themes does it cover?
Religious Faith
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Family Children
Names Sentiments
Religious Verse
Biblical References
Moral Instruction
New Hampshire Gazette
Poem Details
Subject
Sentiments Of A Large Family Of Children On Occasion Of Their Several Names, And Some Other Distinguishing Circumstances
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains And Couplets
Key Lines
We're Of One Common Stock: Or Fourteen, Or Fifteen; Tho' We Must Be Allow'd To Speak, For Some, That Are Not Seen.
Of All The Twelve, Whom Jesus Chose, John, Did Most Worthy Prove; On Jesus's Bosom, For To Rest; For He Excell'd In Love.
My Name, Is For Memorial! O May I Not Unworthy Prove, To Be Remember'd Of My God; Of Him, Who Is Eternal Love!
37th Genesis, 9th. The Sun And The Moon, And The Eleven Stars Made Obeisance To Me. Verse 10th. Shall I And My Mother, And Thy Brethren, Indeed Come To Bow Down Ourselves To Thee To The Earth?
12th Revelations, I. There Appeared A Great Wonder In Heaven. A Woman Clothed With The Sun, And The Moon Under Her Feet, And Upon Her Head A Crown Of Twelve Stars.