CONTENTMENT. "Man wants but little here below." LITTLE I ask; my wants are few; And close at hand is such a one, Plain food is quite enough for me; Thank Heaven for three. Amen! I always thought cold victual nice; - I care not much for gold or land; Or trifling railroad share ; I only ask that Fortune send A little more than I shall spend. Honors are silly toys, I know, And titles are but empty names; I'm very sure I should not care Jewels are bawbles; 't is a sin To care for such unfruitful things; One good-sized diamond in a pin,Some, not so large, in rings, A ruby, and a pearl, or so, Will do for me; I laugh at show. My dame should dress in cheap attire ; Some shawls of true Cashmere, — I would not have the horse I drive So fast that folks must stop and stare; An easy gait two, forty-five Suits me; I do not care; Perhaps, for just a single spurt, Some seconds less would do no hurt. Of pictures, I should like to own Titians and Raphaels three or four, (A landscape, foreground golden dirt,— The sunshine painted with a squirt.) Of books but few, some fifty score Some little luxury there Of red morocco's gilded gleam, And vellum rich as country cream. Busts, cameos, gems, such things as these, Which others often show for pride, I value for their power to please, And selfish churls deride ; One Stradivarius, I confess, Two Meerschaums, I would fain possess, Wealth's wasteful tricks I will not learn, Nor ape the glittering upstart fool; Shall not carved tables serve my turn, Give grasping pomp its double share,— I ask but one recumbent chair. Thus humble let me live and die, I shall not miss them much, Too grateful for the blessing lent PARSON TURELL'S LEGACY: OR, THE PRESIDENT'S OLD ARM-CHAIR. A MATHEMATICAL STORY. FACTS respecting an old arm-chair. At Cambridge. Is kept in the College there. Seems but little the worse for wear. That's remarkable when I say It was old in President Holyoke's day. Know old Cambridge? Hope you do. - |