ONCE on a time, a Paper Kite Was mounted to a wondrous height; Where, giddy with its elevation, It thus express'd self-admiration: "See how yon crowds of gazing people Admire my flight above the steeple; How would they wonder, if they knew All that a Kite, like me, could do? Were I but free, I'd take a flight, And pierce the clouds beyond their sight; But, ah! like a poor prisoner bound, My string confines me near the ground; I'd brave the eagle's towering wing, The winds soon plunged it in the tide. Impatient of thy ruling hand; How oft I've wish'd to break the lines How oft indulged a vain desire For something more, or something higher! And but for grace and love divine, A fall thus dreadful had been mine." THE BUTTERFLY'S BIRTH DAY. THE shades of night were scarcely fled, From fleecy clouds of pearly hue And from the blackbird's mellow throat When bursting forth to life and light, Unconscious of a mother's care, Her slender form, ethereal light, Trembling with joy, awhile she stood, And balanced oft her broidered wings, Go, child of pleasure! range the fields, Go, sip the rose's fragrant dew,- And rifle all the woodbine's store: And let me trace thy vagrant flight,— But hark! whilst yet I musing stand, -They cease-but still a voice I hear, "Yet start not! on thy closing eyes "Shall the poor worm that shocks thy sight, And yet the emblem teach in vain ? "Ah! where were once her golden eyes, "Like thee the hopeless reptile lived, "And shalt thou, numbered with the dead, No happier state of being know? And shall no future morrow shed On thee a beam of brighter glow? "Is this the bound of power divine, Or shall not He, who moulded thine, "Go, mortal! in thy reptile state Frail child of earth! high heir of heaven!" EMULATION. ENDEAVOUR to be first in thy calling, whatever it be; neither let any one go before thee in welldoing: nevertheless, do not envy the merits of another, but improve thine own talents. PRUDENCE. HEAR the words of Prudence, give heed unto her counsels, and store them in thine heart: her maxims are universal, and all the virtues lean upon her: she is the guide and mistress of human life. Put a bridle on thy tongue: set a guard before thy lips, lest the words of thine own mouth destroy thy peace. Let him that scoffeth at the lame, take care that he halt not himself: whosoever speaketh of another's failings with pleasure, shall hear of his own with bitterness of heart. Of much speaking cometh repentance, but in silence is safety. |