Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-18


ieges Of euea,ic thanks to our parochiai system, al
ss IN the capital itself
TO POVERTY.
Hat mighty Power who DOR my lot
Ptesidest uncontrolled and free;
6olo ruor of the rural cot,
bid thee hail, dread Poverty
Thine aid crave to gu idle my strain.
Nor shall supplicate in vain.
When on this world of woe and toll.
a helpless stranger, was cast,
Like mariner OF desert isle,
Tho sport aod victim of tho blast,
Thy russell robe DER mo flung,
Aud to Thy cold, lean hand cluns.
In youth I felt thy guardian cure
Each saving, selfdenying rulo,
Eesdful for those of fortune spare,
learn md practised in thy school
And OF my lengthcn'd life at largo
Thou still has taken special charge.
Much have iseen, much more pvc heard,
or chance and change il this val, world
1he low TO high estate prcfcud-
From high estate the naughty hurl'd
But CHARGE or change ne'cr passd DER me
am still thy subject Poverty!
tAh how unwise arc they whs scotn
Thy homcly garb and humble FIRE;
Who scale the Tropics burning bourne,
Ideal happiness To share!
They tread the wild and plough the wave
In quest OF gold-bst find grsvo)
There arc who know thee but by name,
Who spurn thy saluinry laws,
And coun, thy mark u badge ofshame.
Aud hold 1t sin TO own thy cause.
Fools that they are! they never knew
Thy guiltless pride-thy spirit true.
Pull on in dangers darkest day
Thy sons have proved thy country's shiold.
When wealth's efleminatc array
Appcar'd not the battle -feid;-
Twas theirs to grasp the Patriot brand,
That droppd from Lux'ry's nervcless hand.
Full OF, when wealth -cngendcred crime
Roll'd DER tho lands its whelrnin< tide
Their rrvcnt faith and hope sublime
Have stable proved though sorcly tried
In virtues heavenward path they trod,
When pleasures sons fOrsook their God.
And yet nor stone, nor poets strain
Records their honors indebted
Ev'n poesy would weave in vain
The laurel wreath for pcnury's child
shoud fashion sheer, fortune ffown
'Twould wither ere the sun went down.
But greater. happier, far is he,
Moro ample his reward of praise
Though he should misery's kinsmnn be,
Thosgh hardships cloud his earthly DAYS:
Who ui"mphs in temptations hour
Than he who wins the warlike tower.
What, though he may not write his name
On hstory's everything page!
What, though tho thrilling trump of fnms
Echo II not from age To age
It's blazon'd bright in realms on high
EnrolFd IN records Of the sky.
What, though the bireling bard no mu,s
When humble worth for notice calls
fhore wants not voice Of harp aud lutte
To hymn II high in heavenly halls
Around the cell where virtue weeps
His nightly watch the Scmph keeps.
If peace OF mind your thoughts employ.
We restless, ring sons Of earth
All shun the splendid haUuts Of 10y
Peace dwells not with unhoy ninth;
But OIL amidst cry OF woes,
As in the desert blooms the roso
Thick fly the hostile shafts of fate,
And wreck and ruin mark their COURSE
But the pure spirit, firm, sedate,
Nor feels their flight, fears its force.
So storms the ocean's surface sweep
While calm below the waters sleep.
may Internal peace be mine
Though out yard woes urge on their war.
And, Hope do thou my path define,
And light it with thy radiant star.
Thou, Hope, who through the shades OF sorrow
Canst tTace the dawn of joys bright morrow!