244 FORGIVE THY BROTHER. We'll call each little charming beam A sister or a brother! He thinks no shame to kiss us, For his kind looks are the only looks We'll tell him all our sorrows, Tom! We'll tell him all our care, We'll tell him where we sleep at night, CHOICE POEMS. FORGIVE THY BROTHER. FORGIVE thy brother who has erred, Joy 'll sparkle in his eye to hear THE BEGGAR'S REVENGE. Will make him rise to life again, When, in the round of Folly's train, A smile is on his cheek; The glow of heaven has tinged his brow, - 245 THE BEGGAR'S REVENGE. THE king's proud favorite at a beggar threw a stone: He picked it up, as if it had for alms been thrown. He bore it in his bosom long with bitter ache, And sought his time revenge with that same stone to take. One day he heard a street mob's hoarse commingled cry: The favorite comes! - but draws no more the admiring eye. He rides an ass, from all his haughty state disgraced; And by the rabble's mocking gibes his way is traced. The stone from out his bosom swift the beggar draws, And, flinging it away, exclaims, "A fool I was!" 246 SPEAK GENTLY. 'Tis madness to attack, when in his power, your foe, And meanness then to strike when he has fallen low. ALGER'S ORIENTAL POETRY. SPEAK GENTLY. SPEAK gently! it is better far To rule by love than fear; Speak gently! let not harsh words mar Speak gently to the aged one; Grieve not the care-worn heart; Speak gently, kindly, to the poor, Speak gently! He who gave his life, Speak gently! 't is a little thing, THERE's a word very short, but decided and plain, Not a child but its meaning can quickly explain, What a world of vexation and trouble 't would spare, If we turned, when temptation would lure and ensnare, And firmly repulsed it with "No!" When the idler would tempt us, with trifles and play, When the scoffer unholy our faith would gainsay, When deception and falsehood and guile would invite, Never palter with truth for a transient delight, In the morning of life, in maturity's day, Whatever the cares that engage, Be the precepts of virtue our guide and our stay, Thus the heart shall ne'er waver, no matter how tried, And when passion or folly would draw us aside, We'd spurn the seducer with "No!" GEORGE BENNETT. 248 THE FORSAKEN. THE FORSAKEN. O THOU whose brow, serene and calm, View not with scorn that lost one's fate, Though in thy lovely form and face Thou in thy father's home may dwell Yet pity her, though friendless now, Perchance the smiles of love are thine, Then weep for that forsaken one, And still, 'mid shame, and guilt, and woe. Who makes thee blest, and pours on her He knows the secret lure that led Her youthful steps astray; |