TO MRS, J*-* W*** 101 



Oh, had thy selfdevotion but been less, 



Hadst thou neglected Charity's demands 



Because entrenching on thine ease and quiet, 



Hadst thou sought -wealth or power or empty feme, 



Perchance thou hadst escaped imprisonment, 



And jauntily passed graveward with the rest, 



A thing of earth, an idle-busy nothing. 



Free and unfettered on thy useless way : 



But thou art now a glorious spectacle, 



A model to thy fellows, to the crew 



Of gnimblers who delight in discontent, 



And fret o'er ills of their imagining. 



Morosely restless, restlessly infirm. 



Hold on thy way, great heart ! Sweet peace be thine. 



Peace the reward of thy unselfish coui'se ! 



The teaching of thy brave example mine ! 



And has the wayward muse forgotten thee, 



In the just tribute she has paid to thine '? 



And has her partiality ignored 



Thy noble part in all past suffering ? 



Oh, think not so ! She sees thee intertwined 



Even with his whole existence, acting the part 



