A COMMON FAILING. 97 



31 (li:0iuniaii lailiitg. 



There is a fault that leads to sorrow, 

 x\s surely as more glaring sin : 



The too great aptitude to boiTow, 

 From some infirmity within, 



A telescope through which to scan 

 The actions of a brother man, 



To magnify each written Hne 



Or unpremeditated word, 

 And oftentimes to intertwine 



Conclusions not to be inferred 

 From words or paragraphs whose strain 



Was not designed to give us pain. 



The sweetest nectarine contains 



A deadly poison of its own, 

 But this fell property remains 



Concealed innocuous in the stone 

 Until the learned chemist's skill 

 Has vivified the power to kill. 



