[1] By this I do not mean to include all foreigners, for some of them I consider among the very best of our population, but dancers, &c., &c.
To thee, the guardian of my youthful days, Fain would I pay some tribute of respect; And though it falls far short of thy desert, The _will_ to do thee justice thou'lt accept.
As I recall the days of former years, Thy many acts of kindness bring to mind, Tears fill my eyes, in thee I've ever found A friend most faithful, uniformly kind.
Thou art the earliest friend of mine that's left-- The rest have long departed, every one; They've long years since the debt of nature paid, But thou remainest still, and thou alone.
The snow of four score winters thou has seen, And life's long pilgrimage may soon be o'er; Respected, loved, and happy hast thou been, With ample means to relieve the suffering poor, Thou ever hadst the will, as well as power.
Temperate in habit, and of temper even, Calm and unruffled as the peaceful lake, To thee the satisfaction has been given Much to enjoy, and others happy make.
And when thy days on earth shall all be past, And thou before the Saviour's bar appear, Mayst thou be found clothed in his righteousness And from his lips the joyful sentence hear--
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou Hast over few things faithful been, and now I'll make thee ruler over many things, And place a crown of glory on thy brow."
Such will be thy reward, my friend, and mine, If trusting in Christ's merits, _not our own_, We at the last great day in him be found; _He_ is the ark of safety--_He alone_.
Oh! tell me ye shepherds, tell me I pray, Have you seen the fair Jessie pass by this way? You ne'er could forget her, if once you had seen, She's fair as the morning, she moves like a Queen.
My sheep are neglected, my crook's thrown aside, In pursuit of dear Jessie, sweet Jessie, my bride; I hear nothing of her, no tidings can glean, To _see_ is to _know_ her, she moves like a Queen.
Say, have you seen her? oh, pity my grief! Speak _quick_, and impart me the needful relief; You cannot forget her, if once you have seen, She's lovely as Venus, she moves like a Queen.
Have you not seen her?--then listen I pray, Oh! listen to what a poor shepherd can say In the praise of one ne'er so lovely was seen; She's youthful as Hebe, she moves like a Queen.