FRIENDSHIP.

"All like the purchase, few the price will pay,
And this makes friends such miracles below."

MAN rises not to sport on Fortune's tide,

YOUNG.

Then pass unnoticed down the stream of years; He moves the centre of a system wide,

And round his pathway scatters smiles or tears. Not lone the fabric of his hopes he rearsWarm hearts beat high to hear of his renown, His star ascending, some fond bosom cheers, Or leaves in gloom, as darkly it goes down, With secret tears and sad, his memory long to

crown.

Alas, for him who roams the world alone,
With unshared sorrows preying at his heart;
His spirit proud, by long endurance grown
Callous and cold, disdains affliction's dart.
His soul is frozen, and no more shall start
The tears of anguish in his burning eye;
'Mongst mortals scorned, he acts his lonely part,
Then lays him down in solitude to die,

And sinks into the grave unwept, without a sigh.

Sweet Friendship, charmer of a dreary way,

The brightest image in life's sickly dream, In thy kind smiles the saddest soul is gay,

And rays of comfort in the darkness gleam. The frozen heart sends forth a fertile stream Of rich affections, watering all the soul;

A thousand pleasures blossom in thy beam, To deck man's pathway to his gloomy goal, And hide the clustering thorns, e'en thou canst not control.

In youth, the tide of passion swelling high
O'erleaps the bounds of reason. Fancy shows
The distant world in colours of the sky,
And inexperience fears no secret foes.

The trusting heart 'mong thistles seeks repose, And sees a friend in every smiling face;

Till disappointment o'er the prospect blows With chilling blast, the illusion bright to chase, And leaves the withered heart to weep in lone

liness.

Men walk in masks, deceiving and deceived,
And fall into the nets themselves have spread;
Hope ever cheating smiles, and is believed,

And half the world goes dreaming to the dead.

With careless steps enchanted ground we tread, Where naught is real that salutes the eyes;

A magic scene where most are blindfold led, And act their parts beneath a deep disguise,

Till death the vision ends, and wakes them to surprise.

Each virtue hath its counterfeit, and oft

A demon lurks beneath an angel's smile; Religion's mantle throws a radiance soft O'er spirits dark, and hides the secret guile That swells like poison through the soul the while. The name of Friendship is blasphemed for gain, And thousands crowd her altars to defile

With gifts unholy, cursed with mammon's stain, Which eats into the heart, and makes their homage vain.

Wealth, reputation, ease, may take them wings
And leave the wretch to infamy and want;
But a pure breast, will soothe a thousand stings,
And friendship's smile light up affliction's haunt.
'Tis not in fortune or the world to daunt,
Howe'er they break, the spirit armed with truth;
But heaviest falls the false friend's bitter taunt,
And pierces deepest with envenomed tooth,

Poisoning the fount of life, e'en in the heart of youth.

Earth has no deadlier foe, than faithless friend,

The thrust descends where most secure we feel; The viper, sleeping in the breast, may send A pang more fatal than the assassin's steel.

All other wounds some medicine may heal, Hope wipes the tear from suffering's haggard eye, Time soothes the soul where grief has set its seal; But who may balm to wounded heart apply? When friends we've loved grow cold, 'tis time for us to die!

1835.

WRITTEN ON THE FIRST PAGE OF A SISTER'S

ALBUM.

There is one who hath gone to his rest,

Whose name on this page should appear,

Though the grave where he slumbers no marble hath pressed;

Embalmed by affection in many a breast,

His mem'ry shall ever be dear.