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D Coloured covers/ Couvertures de coulaur D Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur D • Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couleur Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages ddcolordes, tachetdes ou piqu6es n Coloured plates/ Planches en couleur Show through/ Transparence E Tight binding (may cause shado*vs or distortion along interior margin)/ Reliure serr6 (peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge irtdrieure) Pages damaged/ Pages endommag6es n Additional comments/ Commentairos suppldmentaires Bibliographic Notes / Notes bibiiographiques Orjiy edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Bound with other material/ Reli^ avec d'autres documents n Pagination incorrect/ Erreurs de pav For there they could no loncjer stay. But to the turtle they did state, He must keep still at any rate. And his fine mouth he must keep shut^ Or he would go to Boston Put. So the swans the rod did take up, Which gave the turtle a bright hope ; The swans did fly high in the air, Which made the people laugh and stare. For truly *twas a pretty sight To see the swans and turtle bright, As they did fly all in a row ; It made the boys to laugh and crow. In those days, as our fables tell, Swan« and turtles could talk full well. When the great noise was heard below,. The turtle wished the noise to know; His mouth he opened and he fell, At least the fable so doth tell ; He fell so hard that he was found Lying stark dead upon the ground ; His inquisitiveness, you see, Took his life immediately. that mankind would become wise^ And wisdom learn not to despise ; POEMS. 11 Good advice take and practice, too, Until with life they do get through. The Little Girl; Of a little lass I must write, The story I must tell ; She lost her father one dark i ght, Her grief for him did swell. She could not find him for a time, It may to some seem strange Which I shall tell, and that in rhyaie If I can it arrange, ' The child did look about tha house Her father could not find ' She looked about just like a mouse, tohe thought she must be blind. At last she went to the stair door Her father saw his child, ' He bid her jump from off the floor. But she was still too wild. Her father told her not to fear, •^or he his daughter saw, That he would catch his pretty dear Without^a single flaw. The child did wish to go below, ^ But still was much afraid, To father she did wish to go, The loving, pretty maid. ' 12 POEMS, U: Jir She thought at last that she would trv And jump into the dark, Which soon she did, then what joy, As great as Jass and '^park. Her father caught her, 'tis most true, How happy she did feel ; Now let us trust Jesus the Jew, Lord, increase our zeal. By sight we cannot see the Lamb, Yet He is ever near, For Jesus is the great I AM, We've nought, ray friends, to fear. Jesus sees up, it is a truth. Though Him we cannot see, He sees the aged and the youth, For He is Deity, Tlie Laughing Plant. In Arabia a plant doth grow, The seeds of which have power To make you tell ail that you know. In less than one short hour. From six inches to three feet high, This plant may oft be seen ; It is the seeds when ground and dry, The seeds are like a bean. When dry and ground they do produce Power to make you laugh, Ui^ POEMS. 13 And will make you cry like the deuce, I can't tell you the half. But then the plant will make one cry, Perhaps a girl weeps for a boy, And a laddie will laugh alouu, And hunt for his lass in the crowd. Perhaps an old maid does feel young, And kindly strives to use her tongue, And thinks perhaps she'll get a man, But 'tis tho plant that works the plan. You think the devil is to pay, The old and young will dance and play, And as long as the seed they take They'll know little like Uncle Jake. Like Sir Humphrey Davy's queer gas , It will play hob with boy and lass ; Some boy« will strive the girls to kiss. Be she a white cr a black miss. And some large girls will do the same, To kiss the boysi it is a shame ; But when the seed they've eaten up Of sense they have lost every sup. I shan't take the seed, no, not I, Though but a poor poetic boy ; If I should eat I am afraid I'd like to kiss each pretty maid, 14 POEMS. For witliout t he plant I do find For maidens sweet I'm much inclined. Perhaps if I ate the vile plant, 1 might insult uncle or aunt, Then soon the folks poor me would pitch Where once Tve been — into the ditch. ill! God's Sympathy, It was sympathy all livme That made the Fat ^r send His only Son, my Saviour mine, And everlasting friend, To this poor earth, and die the just. Our pins all for to pay ; In Jesus, then, let us trust, And worship Him each day. It was sympathy that did move The Father to save man, How good and kind and full of love^ And what a holy plan. The plan was laid before man fell — God is the God of love — To keep man out of a dire hell, To take his soul above. It was sympathy of a God — None like it can be found — To give His Son to shed His blood, His grace did thus abound. POEMS. 15 The Father can poor man behold, If in Jesus they be, Far raore pure than the purest gold, To all eternity. It was sympathy, yes indeed, By which we can attain For soul and body what we need. And keep us free of pain. We cannot tell God's liolv love. But this we all do know, If in Jesus, we'll go above, Where joys forever flow. It was sympathy, purest love. The love of God alone, That sent His Son His love to prove^ And did our sins atone. Great God, thy love we must confess. It is most passing strange ; Christ Jesus is ray righteousness, My mind on Him doth range. MoBt x'lainly. Most plainly, plainly I can see, My Saviour died, he died for ire; And when i die I'm su>*e to go. And dwell with Christ where joys do flow. Most plainly, plainly I do know. The joys that doth from Jesus flow ; And when I die I'm sure to rest, With Jesus Christ among the blest. 16 POEMS. Most plainly, plainly I can tell, The road that leads away from hell ; The road that leads to God above, By Jesus Christ the God of love. Most plainly, plainly I do long, To sing that sweet and holy song, That Moses sings in regions bright, Where all is peace, where all is light. Most plainly, plainly I must tell, That I do love Imraanuel ; And when I die I'm sure to rest. In heaven above amonof the blest. X'l i!lh I have no Home. I have no home beneath the sky. But then I have a rest; , In Christ I trust that bye and bye, With Him I shall be blest. I have no home on earth below, But have a home above; To Jesus I am sure to go, True source of perfect love. I have no home whilst I stay here, No, no abiding home: But Jesus will my poor soul cheer, In my sweet home to come. I have no home where sin does dwell, Although a poor poet ; POEMS. I Jong to see Imrranuel. Then sin I shsnt know it. I have no home until I die, No home that I do crave', , \^ve a sweet home far on hicrb A home beyond the ^rave. " ' I have no home upon this sod But have a home above; In Christ m J soul is hid with God fc^weet home of perfect Jove. ' Tne Gospel. The Gospe] sound it doth me cheer, The Gospel takes away all fear; The Gospel is the best of news, To smners ail, Gentiles and Jews. The Gospel tells us how we may Escape from endless misery That God did make to save poor man. The Gospel teaches us the way, ^hat guides „s to eternal day And lets us know if we do res't "° Christ alone, we shall be blest. I It ?,7"/.'''^'' ^^«* Christ did. That God the Father and the Son, M" office two, in person one; It W: I ilii ; 18 POEMS. i i: III: li. And tho Spirit third of tho three, Are in persons one Deity. The Gospel ia to sinners given, As a true chart that guides to heavtn ; The Gospel i« what we all need, From God alone it doth proceedw At A. McP. Five bonny lassos here do dwell, 'Tis true I love the five; But which I love best 1 shant tell, To check my love I'll strive. I know I should them equal love, But I cannot do it; For one I know 1 love above, I'm a simple poet. If I were young it would be fair, My true love to make known, But as it is I must declare, I wish ray love were flown. I dare not tell to mortal man, Her sweet and lovely name ; But this ril say it is not Ann, I feel I am to blame. Let friendship take the place of love, O then I can be free ; O may we both soon meet above, Do you wish it Mary ? POEMS. Rlclies Above. I long to go, the truth I tell, I long with Jesus Christ to dwell; 'Tis true, His love betimes I share. Feel richer than a millionaire. I long to go from earth away, For here by ti:iie8 I'm apt to stray; Then I do long for to appear With Jesus Christ, a millionaire. Although I know that I shall dwell With Jesus Christ Immanuel, I pass my life in dread and fear. Yet rich I be as millionaire. I cannot tell how soon I'll die, And leave this earth to go on hirrh; But this I know that I shall share As rich a home as millionaire. I do not care if death should come, I have a sure and happy home, A home where I shall Jesus share, Eicher bj far than millionaire. I wish that sinners all could see % faith the Lamb of Galilee, Then they like me would have a share In Jesus, too, as millionaire. 'Tis strange, my friends, and yet 'tis true, Sinners in Christ no beauties view; 19 k^*. K « 20 POEMS. J H'j llil.; 0, if they had in Chiist a share They're richer far than millionaire. Jesus is rich, in Him I dwell, He is the pearl I love pc well, He is all money, I declare, In Him I'm rich as millionaire. And when I lay my head to rest I know in Jesus I am blest; I have no fear, no, nor yet care, In Christ I am a millionaire. Although I'm old and soon shall die, I have a home beyond the sky, And soon I trust that I'll be there, A happy, rich, blest millionaire. WMs^ey. A mother told her little boy To take a bottle, ** Quick," say she, *' And go to Brown's, for I am dry, And get me a quart of whiskey." The little boy did wildly stare, He thought his mother raging mad, He had been to a meeting, where He signed the pledge, that made him gla( But when his mother bade him go, The whiskey quick for to procure. It filled his heart with grief and woe. Such disgrace he could not endure. POEMS. 21 ♦* mother dear, forgive your boy, For I the pledge, Tm sure, have took, So I cau't buy whiskey or rye, But will obey God's holy book. *• It is not right, my mother dear , For you or I whi&key to drink, For those who do, I much do fear. Are very near hell's awful brink. " ** Give me the bottle," she did cry, " For I can go and procure it, For I do feel that I am dry; In spite of you I shall get it." " mother, dear, it is not right, Do not go, my dearest mother; Our happiness, mother, 'twill blight, And displease our elder brother. ** Now, mother', if *tis wrong for me To go and purchase alcohol, do not go and buy whiskey, If wrong for one, 'tis wrong for al).'* The mother thought her boy was right, And so she would strive to abstain ; Nor did she go that blessed night — She found her strivings not in vain. From that blest night whiskey was o'er, For hi", power was all broken down. No whiskey did enter that door, Nor money given to drunken Brown. 22 POEMS. iiiillll r I- Angelina Thompson. Death has taken Angelina, A mother goou and kind, Her soul is now in endless daj, She had a gentle mind. Three sweet babes she has left below, For she has gone above ; The babes are small, perhaps don't know A g-entle mother's love. No doubt kind friends the babes will take, And kindly use them, too, If not for self, for Jesua' sake; 'Twill be a pretty view. But 0, the husband, he does mourn His absent partner dear, He feels like one that is forlorn, His life it is most drear. And when his babes ho doth behold, How mournful he does feel , His agony cannot be told. Lord God, increase his zeal. May he for comfort to Christ fly ; In Jesus he will find That when his thoughts are placed on high) 'Twill give him ease of mind. No doubt his life is lonesome here. His wife to him can't come, POEMS. And though this earth mavZl^7Z~7~, 'T-"n>akehi„Hongfo:rore ''""' AlK,meofUfs«,ahomoofjV, ' Where tey both soon sha«4et. Whe.egnefcrscrro can't annor Around God's inoroy seat. Who would not long to be away, T„^^7g''«f«''d sorrow dwei To dwell above in endless day. With Christ Immanuel I Long to See. I Jong to see my earthly race, :ap.n out its brittle thread ; *or I am saved bv aml'Q f Nor do I fear the dead. ' J Jong to see the realms above. Where all is purity; When I shall dwell in perfect love, in Mghi of Deity. ' I Jong to see the bleeding Urvb That shed Bis blood ?or me:' % Saviour, mine, and great I Am • When with Him Shan I be? I long to see the monstor death Jake mefrom earth below. That I to Christ may go. 24 POEMS. I long to see the land of light, Where darkness cannot come, And I am glad my hopes are bright, That makes me long for home. I long to see the end of time, The end of time with me, For I above shall make sweet rhyme, When I my Saviour see. Happiness. For happiness all men will strive, Yet few obtain the same, The most are dead, and not alive, For them it is a shame. All can be happy if they ;/i.!l, But not in self, 'tis true ; The most of men are wretched still. For Christ they do not view. Out of Christ, happiness there's none. But if in Him we be, Then melted is our heart of stone. And we do feel most free. In Jesus I happiness find, In Him alone 'tis found. And poor sinners all, if not blind, May tread the heavenly ground. To be happy, then, we must trust To Jesus Christ alone. I ^ m POEMS. I ^^r 7« W5J1 find ^^^T^^Ttt;;;- I He loves His only Son. "' ' I ^*' '°/^'" ^e al] may be I ^''* ""^'^ *!>«' he dees love. I ^°^ <^'d love us when He di^ ■ I H. blessed Son to ^ ''" I f J""! ''"PPy '^e «" may be I And after death on high. ■ ''"si^ea to sanila. I ^^^"f *«' Sarnia for a time, I Perhaps I'J, come agnin, ■ Jo leave ^ niecA ^f ,v, ■ All have beea good, yes all but one I To me have been most kind • put that .he one is a bard gu'v I ^'"^^'^ «he is and blmd ' I The truth of her I tell; I -*»" fit alone for hell. A perfect demon she, ^ ' ^«d often puts her ^a.e to flight fc-he 18 a she bully. ^ ' B 25 26 rOEMS. Ijijlii She may repent, but I fear not; Herself she cannot guard; She is a drunken worthless sot, Her husband uses hard , Indeed, my friends, it makes me glad — In Sarnia there's but one ; If there were more, 'twould make me sad ; With that I find I have done. But of kind people, I must say, My heart with joy doth run, For I met .with some everj day That good to me have done. I dare not tell the names of all, Indeed I know them not, For oft on ladies I do call, Whose names I have forgot. Sometimes I ne'er would ask a name, Yet sweet verses I'd write ; Their kindness would my heart enfiame, My soul they would delight. There is one lady bright and fair, My love for her doth flow, An^' if I could, ray life would share, With the lovely widow. I love Carrie, I ov n the truth, I love her, yes do I, But then I love her in the truth, To meet her in the sky. POE^rs. I cannot wed no one below, But Jove them here I can • My Came dear, my sweet widow, X wish I were your man. Your kmdness, dear, TU ne'er forget, Although a poet rude : My heart is soft, it is as yet, Behold my gratitudt^. The day v cold when I did call, >^ou soon gave me a chair; I wrote on death, whn fok^^ ,.- ,7? i^rom where we now appear. Are you a Spiritualist f I answered and said, no, I am an humble old Baptist- Your love I think did flow. 0, dear Carrie, I will not tell The thoughts! had of thee; ret I will own my heart did swell With lore and poetry. Inspired, you said, I then must be And further, you did say, ■All good comes down from Deity Nor did I answer, nay. ' I took my leave and went out west. 1 iie day was very cold, And 80 I thought I'd seek my nest. My boarding house behold. 27 28 POEMS. J! 'iil:i I iiii liiik 'iiilijl But, Carrie dear, as I came by, You opened tlie door wide, And told the poor poetic boy With you awhile abide. How glad I was you cannot tell, Into your house I went; My heart with gratitude did swell, Nor could I it prevent. And when the fruit you did pass round, My heart for you did bleed ; For none, dear Carrie, have I found As this poor me would feed. Dear friends below, they have to part ; So when the time did come, When I must leave, alas, my heart, How sad did I go home. Perhaps we'll meet no more belove, Although you bid me call ; Our mutual love I'm sure will flow. When we leave this poor ball. Yes, when we meet in regions bright, Our souls will then expand ; Our faith, dear Carrie, will be sight, On Canaan's happy land. May God bless you, my Carrie, mine, So long as you here stay, And when you die, see that sweet clime. Where we shall no more stray. POEMS. 29 Another lady, bright and fair, Requested Uncle Jake To eat some peaches, good and rare, Which he soon did partake. Her name Tm sure I do not know, She has a husband kind ; A little love for her did flow, For few like her I ^nd. When I got up to go away, She bid me call again ; I said I would, bid her good day, Not without grief and pain. So many women have been kind, I cannot mention all, But to their kindness Tm not blind. On many I shall call. The cars I'll take to-morrow morn, And leave Sarnia behind ; Indeed I feel sad and forlorn, To kindness Vm not blind. An Ensllsh Lady. English lady, quite young, bright and fair, the city of Rome she did repair, take a vi^w of that wonderful place, here the Pope for gold pretends to sell grace ; here many a priest and fair nuns do dwell, id many other wonders which I can't tell. 30 POEMS, The English lady, with her Italian maid, Were riding about in a grand parade. When the Pope's guards did stop the English lass,| And bid her to stop, for she could not pass : She must with them to His Holiness go, And further, too, she must kiss the Pope's toe. ^*No, indeed," says she, **ril do no such thing,. Kissing the Pope's toe disgrace it would bring; For Pm no Papist, nor ever shall be, Nor will the Pope's toe be kissed by poor me " When the Pope found out that the lady fair Made fun of his toe it did make him stare ; The Pope spoke to the maid, and kindly, too. For he was puzzled, the truth I tell you. The guards were polite, and the old Pope said. As he put his hand on the fair maid's head, *' My blessing to you at least I now give, Although a blind heretic, I know you hve; If you won't kiss my toe, pray kiss my hand ;'* And the Pope looked so pleasant and so grand, The lady took his hand and soon did kiss, 'Twas^the first time done by man or by miss. The lady left the Pope, and she felt proud, The joke of the hand made her laugh aloud ; ** I've done something," said she, *' and now can Pve kissed the Pope's hand instead of his toe; ril now write mother, for she is kind, Nor caii the poor old Pope her daughter blind « POEMS. 81 The Pope is a farce, so is priest aod nun, And Rome is the place where we can have fun. CJnole Jake. Fanny R. Fanny was a dear Christian lass, Her countenance most fair ; But soon Fanny, Fanny, alas ! Was almost in despair. Fanny was taught for to believe That she could fall from grace; 'lis true, her conduct made her grieve, It changed her pretty face. Seldom in church was Fanny seen, But dancing she did prize. And many that to halls Jiave been Would see her sparkling eyes. Poor Fanny felt like others do That have been born again ; Although she danced, it is most true, Her heart was filled with pain. A child of God may often stray, Yet do not love to sin ; For they do know Jesus the way, And what one day they*ve been. They know likewise there is a rod, That the Lord oft doth use, To bring poor sinners back to God, When they his love abuse. 32 POEMS. Sin made poo'- Fanny's cheeks look pale, Her eyes likewise grew red ; Sin against health will oft prevail, The saint of sin doth dread. Poor Fanny found sin would not pay, Her peace by it she lost; She ceased to dance, began to pray, And knew what sin had cost. Fanny did feel that she lost all, Her grief was very great, Loudly on Jesus she did call; Sad was poor Fanny's state. God knew Fanny was most sincere, Her prayer he did attend, And now she's happy, pretty dear, And so her life shall end, A child of God that goes astray Longa to come back again , And knows that sin will never pay. But gives him constant pain. Luther's Prayer. When Germany was all but lost With care poor Luther then was tost; He thought the Papists would take all, Then lowly on his knees did fall. God, Almighty God, he said, And Everlasting, too, he prayed ; POEMS. B3 How dreadful is this sinful place; I crave, blest God, Thy saving grace. Thi>i world does open its mouth wide, To swallow rae, His nought beside;* My faith is small in Thee, my God, Yet Jesus shed for me His blood. If I depend on earthly strength The world will ruin me at length ; Help me, God, God, do Thou Help me against this world just now; Or else I'm lost; help me, do. Until I with this earth get through. Thou should'st give me on earth the power, The work is Thine, help me this hour; Righteous and Everlasting Thou, Lord, help me whilst 1 do bow ; Faithful and unchangeable God, 1 look to Thee and Jesus' blood. I lean not on man but on Thee, My God, my God, dost Thou hear me; My God Thou dost for ever live. Thou canst not die ; do Thy grace give. Thou hast chosen me by Thy grace To labor in this sinful place ; And as I know Thou didst me choose. Thy call, my God, I shant abuse. God, do Thou not me forsake, But grant me help, for Jesus' sake, ^ I 34 POEMS. ' 'I nil' I" Who is ray defence, buckler, ioo, My Saviour, God, rud a poor Jew. Still Luther ceased iiot, but did cry, Lord where art Thou, far, far on high ; My God, where art Thou, hear me sigh, For Thy cause, I'm ready to die; Thy cause is just, holy and true, Lord help me Thy cause to pursue. T will not let Thee go, not I, Until Thou grant me victory; Nor will I leave Thee, no, not then, I will never leave Thee . Amen. Barton. I see two lasses, I know one. Her praises, too, they shall be sung, For I do love Emily Young, For she is kind. Her age just now is but fourteen, She IS both smart and neat, I ween. The finest girl I yet have seen, And Tm not blind. I hope Emily will take care With whom her life she soon shall share, Foi maidens all are apt to pair, Not live alone. When Emily does change her state, I trust shell find an honest mate; poems! Ifnot,h.w hard will be berstato. "orse than a stone. Emily dear, my advice take, Do -not your mother dear forsake, ^o wed a worthless, wretched rake But live alone. ' But when you find an honest n,an. I thmk ,ny dear, 'tis a good plan To wed h,m, that is, if you can Become a bride. Maids are not born to live alone. The,r hearts are soft, not hard as stone, Aiad oft for man their tongues do groan. And nought beside. Dea. Emily, if I were you, I never would become a shrew. But I would Jove, and love most true Some honest man. ' And after you have found him out. And of h,s love you have no doubt, i hen marry him, no longer rout- Tis a good plan. 'Tis sweet when two united are When all, s Jove, void of all care- Wed if you can. 36 POEMS. Sunday, Delaware. *Ti8 Sunday uiglit, tlie sun is low, I scarce know what to write, My muse, Fm sure, does sluggish flow, Although I see a sight. The sight I see 1 do not love: Of men 1 just see three, Whose thoughts do never reach above Sin .*nd iniquity. Their names Fm sure I cannot tell, The three are fishing now ; I fear the three will go to hell, Unless to Christ they bow. One young chap wears a big plug hat^ And has a long fish pole ; To me it seems he is qui'i.e flat, Nor cares about his soul. Another wears a hat of straw, He's gone some worms to dig. That from the river he may draw Some fish, little or big. The third has got a rowdy on, The three are sitting down ; The three do not know God's dear Son, Though He on them may frown. The crows just now do make a noi8e^ It is their nature to ; P0EM8. 37 But tbon to fish like tlie three hoys. It is vvronnr, I tell you. Vye seen the day when I, like thera, A fishing I would go, And the rapids often would stem, To catch fine (rout you know. ' I think it wrong, I do indeed, And it makes me feel sad ; Although, you know, fish is good feed Fishing to-day is bad. ' I hope it will be the last time On Sunday they will fish ; But on a week day 'tis no crime Of fish to catch a dish. Jacob's Blrtlida^^:^i^23rd, 1868., p.m. My boy to-day is just thirteen ; Almost a year has passed between, Since I with him have been. 'Tis a long time to be apart From him I love with all my heart; It makes my old mind smart. If I could see my lovely boy 'Twould fill my breast with perfect joy Unmixed, with foul alloy. ' I cannot say when I shall see My boy again ; alas, poor me, Vm filled with misery. ' ■ ' i.i' 38 POEMP. li M My heart each day doth swiftly run, My thoughts, I meaji, on my dear son, Jacob, and only one. If no more on earth we do meet, may we have some lowly seat, Lord, at Jesus* feet. Nor shall we then more parted be, But our dear Saviour ever see, In blest eternity. Love Feast, CC.C. At love feast truly I have been. The Lord I know was there; For me, 'tis true, it was a scene That doth my poor soul cheer. The Lord doth choose of every kind. Of every color, too ; For he is good, and thus we find He loves Gentile and Jew. I love the colored brethren all, That do in Jesus trust, That do in truth on Jesus call ; God will save them, he must. I love to hear them sing a song Of praise to Jesus, mine ; T trust it won't be very long When I shall see that clime. POEMS. 39 With Jesus I do long to be, To meet all them in Him, That shall be blest eternally By Christ of Bethlehem. By Nature. By nature man is dead, dead, dead, He cannot see at all Nor God's vengance at all doth dread, Nov knows about the fall . By nature man don't realize His everlasting state, But views a christian with surprise Yet will not be his mate. By nature let us view mankind, 0, what a wretched race; At best they are most woeful blind, void of all saving grace. By nature man is very bold And thinks himself most wise, And if the truth to him is told ' He doth the truth despise. By nature man is sure of hell For sinful he will be, As long as on earth he doth dwell He loves iniquity. By nature man cannot be blest When with this earth he's done, Unless m Jesus he does rest Gods ever blessed Son. r 40 POEMS. I Soon Shall Die. I soon shall die for I do feel My body fast decay ; I have for Christ a little zeal, Lord grant me more I pr?.y. I soon shall die, short is my breath, I know my days are few, My body soon I'll yield to death, My soul shall Jesus view. I soon shall die, 'twill be ray gain For here I find no rest, My body's filFd with sin and pain, My soul longs to be blest. I !i.! 11 (I I ! I'll I soon shall die and go above. From earth I'll soon be free; I long to dwell in perfect love Where all is purity. I soon shall die but not too soon, Lord when will the time come. Will it be morn, or night, or noon, When thou wilt take me home. I soon shall die, soon I shall go And leave all sin behind, Soon I shall go where love doth flow. Where joy will fill the mind. POEMS. 41 The Blcli Poor jnui. One windy afternoon I took a walk, With a friend that we might soon see, One about whom there was a deal of talk, A rich poor man, for such was he. In a country alms-house the man did stay, The poor man had no other place Where he could dwell ; his name it was Wisby, Though poor in gold he's rich in grace. Before a feeble fire pdbr Wisby sat, Palsy he had, nor could hear much; One foot in a wooden shoe went pit-a-pat ; 0, let us truly pity such. What are you doing Wisby, my friend said ? Waiting sir ; my friend said : pray why ? Waiting for Him, my Lord, who once was dead, 'hat I may meet Him m the sky. V And what makes you wish for His appearing? Because I know when He does come, I shall be with Him where there's no sinning, But live in an abiding home. yes, I do long liv Saviour to S3e, I do long Jesus to behold, Who has promised a crown, a crown to me, A righteous crown more pure than gold. Your hope Mr. Wistby, my friend did say, I trust is not false, but is true; 42 POEMS. I i r i pill ii liiii His spectacles lie took without delay, And soon this Scripture brought to view : * * Being justified by faith, God gives peace, For what Jesus for us hath done, And day by day our hope shall increase, Obtained alone bv God's dear Son." My friend soon found out that Whisby could tell, For well the poor man understood The only way to escape a vile hell. And alone in Christ ^o find good. Sir, says Wisby, in gold you may be rich. It matters but little to me; If you have n< t my faith you need not preach, For to bo saved you cannot be. And I would say if you like me have got The faith that purifies the heart, How happy will be your and my blest lot, In heaven above never to part. I'm Waiting. B.B.C. I'm waiting a sermon to hear, The time it does pass slow, Lord do thou hear my weak prayer, make my love to flow. Thy praises Lord soon will be sung. By hearts I hope sincere, And if I can't use my poor tongue, The Spirit Lord bring near. POEMS. 43 0, may I feel my heart to run On holy things divine; May I depend on thy dear Son, , And know Him Lord as mine. May my weak will be shallowed up, On Christ alone depend, "Who drank for me the bitter cup My everlasting friend. The minister, Mr. Glutton, I'm waiting for to hear, I trust he'll preach a good sermon, My poor soul for to cheer. rm on My Way. I'm on my way where I do stay From time to time. Where I compose and get my clothes, And make much rhyme. I cannot tell where I shall dwell This blessed night; But this I know, my love does flow, Christ 's my delight. I cannot fear when Christ is near, He keeps me up, On Him I trust for He ?a just And drank the cup. Dear Jesus died 'twas nought beside, He shed His blood, 44 POEMS. To tate from me iniquity, To dwell with God. So when I die, V\\ go on high And eee the Lamb, Sweet praises sing and honors bring To Jesus the I Am. Ill ill!'; Puflfer. Old Puffer I remember well, And how I met him I shall tell : It was one cold and starry night In winter time, the moon shone bright. It was in Belleville I did dwell When Puffer did my fortune tell ; For Puffer was a knowing man, And knew so well to work his plan. By foT^ ne telling he would make Much money out of Dick or Jake ; And lasses likewise he*d trepan, And money make — such was his plan. So I with others went to see. And hear my fortune told to me. Old Puffer soon a strange tale told, That I should have silver and gold ; That money with me could not stay, That soon from me 'twould flee away; That I likewise should wed a wife, That she would cause me grief and strife. POEMS. 45 I thouglit Puffer a great liar, (I hope ray muse will not soon lire,) For the truth I love and will tell, And what since then hath me befell. He likewise said I would be old Before I'd leave my wife so bojd, Who all my poetry would burn When she her hands on them could turn ; Which she has done, it is most true, (The day I got her I much rue.) Many things Puffer did tell me, Which came to pass most correctly; I've often thougut Puffer an ass, But what he said has come to pass ; And now Fm sixty years of age, The truth I'll tell on every page. My wife I've left, not with sorrow. For grief I care not to borrow ; For grief and sorrow to man's given, To wean from earth, to guide to heaven. Old Puffer did likewise relate Something cheering about my fate : That I should live to an old age, And when quite old I'd become sage ; I'd leave my wife, although quite old. And grow to be a poet bold ; That money quick to me would come, Although on earth I'd have no home; 46 POEMS. But still God would for me proride, Where night found me, there I'd abide, *Ti8 strange, my friends, it is all true, Except the money, I tell you ; I have no home on this poor earth, But thea I've got an heavenly birth. Although no money I possess, Christ Jesus is my righteousness ; I do feel happy with my lot. An interest in Christ I've got. As time with me does flee away, Tm growing richer day by day ; Riches are of kinds only two, The spiritual I'll pursue. But still ril say, and say it bold, rd like to have some earthly gold, For Solomon of gold doth say, 'Tis a defence to keep away Ills of many an earthly kind; Solomon'b views just suit my mind. As a bard I wander about, As yet no one has turned me out ; But still I find I'm growing old, And gold, I'm sure, would keep out cold. For I need clothes, as well as food — Money would do that> gold is good ; And I shall strive some to obtain, And trust I shall not strive in vain. POEMS. 47 Money is good ; I'll say no more, But gold, Vm sure, I shan't adore; Yet, if God please, I shall enjoy But a little competency. 'Twill make me feel joy in my heart, That I from it some day may part. Will leave it with those who will take Care of the old bard, Uncle Jake. When Puflfer had my fortune told , I gave him silver, but not gold ; I left him and thought him a fool. And thought he made of me a tool. I went from Belleville, down the bay, And with poor Jones I there did stay, Who had a wife, and a young one, Who of the old man made much fun. So one night I heard her tell Jones, If he wanted to save his bones, he had better go with her To fluflfman's, and see old Puffer, For she wanted her fortune told ; Her present husband being old. She wanted to know when he'd die, That a young man she might enjoy. Poor old Jones he knew no better, His young wife him so did fetter ; He said she might go, and he, too. Would go old Puffer for to view. 48 POEMS. «* Come, Allan, come," Mistress Jones said ; " I know, my lad, you want to wed ; Come, go with us, and Puffer see, And you will learn your destiny. ** Dear madam," I did quick reply, ** I hate Puffer, he's a queer boy ; And long ago my fortune told, And said that I should have no gold. ** He told so much, and very bad, I thought the old man must be mad ; As I dislike him, I will stay At home, and not go, sweet lady." *' Come, Allan, come, you shall not stay ; Come, and your fare for you Til pay." " I'll go, madam, to please you both, But as for Puffer I do loathe; My fortune he shan't tell again, His fortune telling is all vain. And his fortune he*s sure to make, But no longer out of young Jake." So to Huffman's we all did go, It was not dark, there was some snow ; The house was full when we got there, And each of us soon got a chair. After a while Puffer came in. But first he drank a glass of gin, And through the evening he'd go Oft to wet his whistle, you know. P0BM8. 49 His bottle be kept out of sigbt, The contents of v:bicb gave delight ; And from the ball when he came in, He smelt most strong of old Tom gin. Soon old Puffer did walk around, To see what monev could be found. Which having got, he then began To tell the fortunes of each man. And to lasses ♦ j, he'd relate, And tell thera of their future state; As for poor old Jones he did say, He should not long on this earth stay, That soon he would leave his dear wife To the cares of a widowed life. And unto Mistress Jones he said, Her poor old man had a poor trade ; That she would soon her husband lose, Then quick a young man she would choose It made Mistress Jones laugh aloud, And I thought she felt likewise proud> For poor old Jones she did not love. But often wished he'd go above. She did not love her poor old man. For in her brain she had a plan : She thought a young man she might find When Jores was dead and out of mind. 60 POEMS. ':'i" Many a strange tale there was told, Of lasses sweet and lads most bold. "When fortune-telling was all done, Old Puffer stood and all alone ; For all his dupes did sit around, Whilst poor old Puffer did propound A riddle hard, that none could tell, Except long tail blue from Sorrel. Puffer did his riddle propound, Which was to know where he was found When he a babe on earth was born. Though now he felt sad and forlorn. He bade the folks quickly to tell Where he was born and first did dwell. Some said he was born in Europe, And was a suV Mo the Pope; Some said " n America, Others tLi d&id Asia ; Another I heard yell out and say Puffer was born in Africa. They did the four names oft repeat; Still as they spoke I kept my seat, Until Puffer did loudly cry, " Come, long tail blue, come tell it, boy.** Just at that time I got a thought. His native place to me it brought ; The thought I told which came to me, And that was he was born at sea : POEMS. 51 He was born on the ocean wide, And of Irish parents beside. When I the truth did quick fetch out, Puffer did jump and hop about; He felt most happy, and did cry, *' Give me iong tail blue, he^s the boy ." The party soon did all break up, And I went home with Jones to sup, And Mistress Jones gave us good tea, And chatted sweet and pleasantly. THo Host of Ken. The most of men love here to dwell, Nor seek another home ; ^Tis strange to me, I love to tell Of my sweet home to come. There is a home beyond the sky, A home that is divine, A home of bliss, a home of joy; That home I claim as mine. Not that I merit, no indeed, I merit none at all; But on my Savioi^r I do feed, On Him alone I call. In self Tm lost, in Christ I find The pei^rl above all price; He gives mt peaca, in Him I find That my soul doth lejoico. ^ I m. "I 62 POEMS. ili I know that I often do stray, But why should I repine ; I know that Christ is the tn^e way, And know that He is mine. Though temptations often do come, And sometimes 1 do fall, Yet it doth make me long for home,. To be with Christ, my alL Drunkard. The drunkard I pity, yes I do. The truth of them I'll tell, For I was a drunkard, yes 'tis true^ I tell what I know Well. A drunkard is one whose reason is lost, By rye he's lost his way, And by his bad habits he is so lo«t, He always goes astray. And when in liquor he thinks himself wise. He likewise feels most rich ; And honest sober men \e doth despise, And thinks that he can teach. The drunkard thinks that wit he doth possess,] Though foolish he doth talk; And he will boast of his own worthiness. Until he cannot walk. Liquor has the effect on mankind alt. To fetch out what's evil » POEMS. M For I was once under Kinr^ Alcohol, Fellow to Ibe devil. IS Old Alcohol is a most cursed King, His subjects are all blind ; Misery in his train alone doth bring, And hardness too of mind. My Father's Death. Wm. J's. C. S. D. My Father did suffer here below, tor many a long year, But now he is gone where joys do flow, And free from every care. My father was a christian man bold, For many years did strive, To love his Saviour far more than gold, In whom he then did hve. I'm glad my father did die in peace, It proves his holy birth; In Jesus he lived, in self did cease, A man of sterling worth. Farewell, dear father, for a"short time, For death will surely come ; To mourn a little it is no crime. Until we meet at home. ^ And 'vhen we do meet in regions bright How happy we shall bo, We will see Jesus in perfect light, I long that time to see. 54 POEMS. Alone In Churcli.— Bayham. Vm not alone for God is here, Like Hagar I do know, My God is here and everywhere, How ought my love to flow. Ym not alone, no indeed, For Jesus Christ is here ; He gives me life on Him I feed, And He is everywherts. I'm not alone, dear blessed Lamb, Thy Spiiit thou did'st give, For thou art God the Great I Am, In Thee alone I live. Fm not alone, nor can I be, For Christ is ever near. He is the second of three, I have no cause to fear. Fm not alone, I realize. The blessed Trinity; The three in one doth me surprise, 0, holy mystery. On tlx9 Death of C. McK — Zorra. My mother's gone, she's now at rest, With Jesus Christ among the blest ; She liied a long time in pain. By times she would somewhat complain. She had a cancer, a bad one. Her thoughts she'd place on God's dear Son ; POEMS. 65 The cancer long with her did stay, At last it took her life away. 'Tis true she lived to become old, For four score years, as I am told ; Though long on earth she's now above, In one eternal scene of love. In Christ ray mother did believe, I'm sure I have no cause to grieve, For she is now in regions bright, In one ete'-nal scene of light. And when my time shall come to die^ I trust to meet her in the sky If born again, ^at 0, if not, How sad will be my future lot. Sin; If from sin I were wholly free^^ My soul would be at rest ; But in this world it cannot be, ^ So I long for the blest. As long as I on earth do dwell, Sin I am sure to see; 0, how my soul with love doth swell, To be at liberty. No liberty on earth is found. For here we've got to fight; For sin, my friends, doth much abound, I long for perfect light. 56 POEMS. i;!l Jesus is light, he dwells above, Around His Father's throne ; My Saviour did my poor soul love, My sins He did atone. I lonfif to go, my Saviour see, I long the time to co*^e, When 1 shall be from SiU set free. With Jesus Christ at home. Wilena F.— Zona. Wilena dear, thou soon did'st leave. This earth of sins and care, Thy mother still for thee doth grieve, But she should forbear. For thou art ncTv in regions bright, Thy Saviour thou dost see, Thy soul is now in endless light, I would I were with thee. Dear daughter mine, I feel thy loss, But I should not repine. For thou art pure, thou hast no dross, Wilena, daughter, mine. O, I must write, it is no crime, The loss I still do feel. And I do make this mournful rhyme To manifest my zeal. I can't foiget the lovely face, The image I now see; FOEUS. 57 may the Lord grant me His grace, Thai I resigned may be. The time is spring, the time to plant Divers sweet seeds and flowers, And of thy help I now do want, Who art in heavenly bowers. But I must yield thee up my dear, The garden work alone ; Lord my soul I pray Thee cheer. And melt my heart of stone. My mourning let me cast away, On Jesus let me call ; For here though oft I go astray, Christ saves me from the fall. Twill not be long before we meet In Thy sweet home above. And dwell around God's mercy seat, In one eternal love. I Love Them that Love Me. I love them that love me, sweet truth, 'Tis God that doth say so ; He love the aged and the youth, How much we do not know. God is infinite, His love then We cannot comprehend ; But this we know he loves all men, That have Christ for a friend. 58 POKMS. H I I ! 0, how our hearts with love should flow, For all that God has given ; His own dear Son, that we might know The road that leads to heaven. The road is clear the path is bright, For Jesus is that road ; How should our hearts in Christ delight, Both Son. of man and God. The love of God we cannot tell, It is too high for us ; But then our hearts with love should swell, In praising sweet Jesus. Praise God in Christ the church can do. By walking in pure love; Praise Him Gentiles, and you poor Jew, Praise Him ye saints above. Tho Christian Pcet. When a christian we behold, Whose heart is soft and most tender; He is more precious than find gold, One who has grace, no pretender. Many there are who do pretend. To a great share of sanctity ; Enemies to Christ, but no friend, Such religion is vanity. But a christain and poet loo, When united the two in one; POEIIS. 59 On earth it is a pleasant view; Such are happy in God*8 dear Son. Poets there are whose minds do run, From day to day ©n vanity, And never think of God's dear Son, And only love profanity. But the poet whose mind is bright, Whose thoughts do on Chnst Jesus rove, •Can do some good by spreading light, In guiding souls to the God of love. I Feel Lonely. I feel lonely, why should I, Am I not a poetic boy; Should I be lonely when I can Write about a lass or a man ; Can write a good tale or evil, Can tell of good or the Devil ; Can turn my pen to history, Or leave that for Theology ; Church history is what I mean. That few my friends can tell I ween. 0, but money, that*s the hammer, Fools after that quick will stammer. But for sound sense the most are blind, And few will seek knowledge to find. The knowledge that is from above, ^ The most of men I'm sure don't lore, For if they did I'm sure they'd be, Longing to be with Deity . 60 POEMS. I'll: Salvation. Salvation is a glorious theme On which my soul does dwell; It is a truth, it is no dream, My soul is saved from hell. Salvation by my Saviour came, For He did die for me, To save my soul from guilt and shame> To bleed upon the tree. Salvation I the glorious news, God saves poor finite man ; He saves the Gentiles and the Jews, Such is His gracious plan. Salvation ! what a great boon. By Jesus to us given ; We cannot leave this earth too soon^ To be with Christ in heaven. Salvation is what mortals need To save our souls from hell ; For it our Saviour once did bleed,. That we with Him may dwell. Salvation is a glorious gift. The gift of God alone, Our souls from earth 'twill swiftly lift> To dwell with God's dear Son. Salvation can't be prized too high, It suits the sinners case ; POEMS. 61 It gives us peace it gives us joy, Salvation all of grace. Salvation we will ever prize, Bestowed by God on us; That we may dwell beyond the skies In presence of Jesus. Salvation we can never lose, For it is by God given ; For whom He likes them He does choose To dwell with Him in heaven. Eliza. When I was young , 'twas years ago, I met with grief, sorrow and woe, Which is the lot of human kind If they can see and are not blind. I loved a lass, and she did dwell About ninety miles from Sorel, And oft to see her I would go. In time of heat or time of snow. In summer time, in a calash, rd ride to see her — cut a dash ; Had money plenty and fine clothes, Silk handkerchief for use of nose. I thought I was a smart fellow, Often, too, I would get mellow, For in that day we thought it fine To drink raucli brandy, rum or wine; 62 POEMS. The liquor then was bright and pure, But poison now I can't endure. In winter time I'd swifily roll Over the snow in cariole ; With my French driver by my side, With whip in hand, thus I did ride. And if for me too slow he drove, I gave him soon what he did love, And made him drink the best of rum ; 'Twas then the cariole went hum. I*d tell him, too, his horse was smart, The blarney soon would reach his heart, Then he would drive like old Jehu, And that, you know, would please me, too. My journey ended, I'd soon see The girl I loved — my Eliza, My love was strong, likewise most pure, And she loved me, of that I'm sure. Many a night with her I'd spend. She was a true and loving fiiendj But, alas ! she'd a brother. And he our loves tried to smother, 0, Stewart was a wretched lad ; E'en now it almost makes me mad To think that he should strive to take Eliza from poor Uncle Jake. POEMS. 63 So when I Eliza did spark It would be just — yes, after dark ; And when from her I came away 'Twas just about the break of day. The reason, too, I now shall tell : Stewart did not with his sister dwell, But with his grandfather did stop; I hated him, he was a fop. One scene I well do remember, I think it was in November; I left Eliza, sweetest lark That mortal man did ever spark. Just before day it then did rain, But I was young, T had no pain ; And Eliza had promised me That shortly wedded we should be. The thunder roared, the lightning's flash Often acroe my path would dash; The lightning's glare did much please me, For without it nought could I see ; But when it lightened I could tell The way to go where I did dwell. Between one flash and another I thought wi h me 'twas all over, For I fell dov n, but not on ground, I thought 'twas Satan I had found. For horns he had, and a tail, too, And two large eyes, it is most true. *9 G4 POEMS. I did not long old Satan ride, For soon ho did cast me aside; When I got up, I travelled on, And thought I had had some fine fun. Now what I state is but the truth, But then you know I was a youth. Alas for me, I now must tell What afterwards poor me befell. I thought that I was near to bliss; Alas, my fiiendswe often miss; We cannot tell, O no, not we, How close . ) are to misery. And, like the adage, we can sip Much sorrow between mouth and lip. I went home, my time for to spend, Until that day when I should end My single life, Eliza see, And blest by holy wedlock be. The time was out, I left Sorel, On wings of iove my heart did swell ; The time seemed long, hard I did ride, But death had taken my dear bride : My girl was gone, and soon I found Thac all I loved was under ground. My grief was great, my heart did melt, And few can tell how sad I felt ; No religion then had poor I, I was a wild and wicked boy ; POEMS. 65 I But this I know, Eliza died, And now with Jesus doth abide. A virgin pure, O happy one. Thou now dost dwell with God's dear Son, In one sweet blest eternity, Where all is peace and purity, I took to drink and drank most bard, On liquor then I had no guard ; I drank for three months, then ran mad. The truth I tell, though it is sad. I'll tell the truth, and no mistake: When mad I no liquor would take; But strange to say, when sober, I Would quickly drink the liquid rye. For years I was a sinner bold. My wickedness it can't be told, And yet I can remember well I had an awful fear of hell. Of sin I had a heavy load, I often wished I were a toad ; I wished I were without a soul, That hell o'er me could never roll. I often had an awful fear. And sometimes felt that hell was near ; And I was sure in my own mind That after death hell I would find. In truth, my friends, I raeiit nought. But Jesus came, my sins He bought; 66 POEMS. He paid a price, a great one too, And I am saved by Christ, the Jew. I have a hope, and bright one, too, That when I with this earth get through, That I will go, Eliza see, In the sweet heaven, and number three. Three heavens there are, which I shall tell. For love of which my breast doth pwell; The first of them is here beiow, When first our Saviour's love we know : When all our sins are washed away In Jesus* blood — 0, happy day. That happy day, that Sabbath morn. When I from heaven was truly born — Born not of earth, but from above. Born of the Spirit, God of love. In the first heaven whilst we do dwell, We've got to fight the powers of hell ; Three potent enemies we'll find. And the viie three are all combined To vex our souls, and lose them, too. But that ; ray friends, they ne'er can do ; The world is one, the flesh is two, And Satan three — all brought to view. In this world for a time we stay. And see in it much vanity. If our eyes are opevi ; but then This is not the case of all men ; POEMS. 67 For some are blind, and cannot eee, But end their life in misery. The flesh comes next, and that is bad, It often malses the poor saint sad, For he does hate all kinds of lust, Yet tempted be, indeed he must. The last of the threa is Satan, And he will tempt many a man To commit sins of divers kinds, So as to pollute the saint's minds; But if we resist he must flee, God's blest word teaches it to me. If we fight Satan he can't stand. If we're in Christ he's weak as sand; In the first heaven whilst we do stay, We must fight old Satan away ; But when with this earth we are o'er, Satan can't tempt though he may roar, Now with the first heaven I have done, And that is here under the sun ; The first we must see, 'tis God's an, Or can't be saved, woman or man. Of the second heaven I must tell. Where Eliza's soul now doth dwell ; The soul is there, but body not For body in the earth must rot; And there shall stay and there remain 'Till soul and body meet again ; 168 / POEMS. The second heaven we then do find, Separates body from the mind • Now for the third and last blest state, My friends it is most grand and great, In it we'll see and know likewise, All Caere we knew beneath the skies, That were born by God's blest Spirit, Without aid of creature merit. Born to be blest and never die, Born to dwell with Jesus on high; From first and second the third doth come, 0, how I Ions foi' that sweet home Where I shall dwell in perfect joy, Id praising God my time employ. And there shall see many a sight That will my happy soul delight; There I shall rove from place to place Ever under God's shining face ; There my Jesus I too shall see. In one ceaseless eternity. There see His hands and bleeding side, And feet likewise, all for His bride ; Yes for fiis bride His blood was shed. Then why, why should we death dread. There friends shall meet and never part, And her I loved with all my heart, I there shall see, with her shall dwell Id presence of Immanuel. POEMS. 6^ I long, I long to go on high, With Christ to dwell in endless joy; Where sin or sorrow hath no home, how I long that time to come; For here I find sorrow and pain, To die my friends it would be gain. I Acrostic. (My Mother has gone to rest above. Amen.) My mother has gone to her rest, Yes, she has gone to regions bright, My heart with grief though it is prest ; 0, mother now dwells in pure light, Then whv should I for her feel ^ad ; How thankful rather and most glad. Ever may I think of her end, Righteous in Christ her only friend ; How peaceful in Jesus she died, And now with Him she doth abide . So may 1 live, so may I die. Great God do thou take me on high ; On Jesus ray dependance place ; None can from Him my soul displace; Ever more may I Jesus know, To mother then I'm sure to go. 0, Jesus save from endless woe, Receive me Christ, let my love flow. EVn now Jesus Jo thou impart. Sweet peace to my poor wounded heart To love a mother, one oo kind And gentle too, we seldom find ; But so it k she's gone above, 70 POEMS. O now she dwells in endless love; Virtuous she was whilst here below, Ever my love for her shall flow, And when I die I'll go above, Mother to see in pei-fect love , Ever in Jesus presence be. None so happy as poor me. Mrs. Mary Coats. * I knew a lady, yes quite well, She was born and bred in Sorel ; Her busba nd was a captain bold, To me at least it was so told. She with her husband went away, To foreign parts and their did stay ; As long as life her husband had, She lived with him and made him glad. But soon death came, the captain took, She for comfort homewards did look, To old Sorel she came again, A widow, filled with grief and pain. Her husband dead, her sons away, Her sons did follow the army ; She had two sons and only two, Brave officers, it is most true. To the East Indies they did go. Where all is heat, there is no snow ; Where the sons are I cannot tell, But this I know I wish them well. POEMS. 71 When she came back, it is most true, A wrong course then she did pursue; Instead of reading God*s blest book. To brandy drinking she soon took, And drank a quart from day to day, Too mucb by far for a lady. But still the tale is all the truth, For at the time I was a youth, And I am knowing of the case, I sold the brandy, sad disgrace. And still I feel ^ little sham e, But after all Fm not to blame. For in that C iy good priest and all Made free use of King Alcohol. Five days in a week I would see A humpback girl coming to me ; Mistress Coats' servant with a can. To hold a quart, such was her plan ; On each and every Saturday Two quarts she bought, I got the pay. One Sunday night, Mary got up, A little brandy for to sup, Out of a chair she got a fall In reaching for old alcohol. The cupboard that was in the wall, She could not reach it was too tall. And so a chair she had to take And lost her life for brandy's sake. 72 POEMS. She was not found till Monday morn, Her companion felt most forlorn, For she had one sweet Miss Conrov, loyed here then though but a boy ; And thought it hard that I should be Too young for to wed Malrina. To the funeral I did go, Aside the coflSn lid did throw ; Her face was fair and rosy red, She did not look like the pale dead. But looked like them we often find. Who are to liquor much inclined ; What I saw I shall remember. From January to December. Silas Cook. O Oxford Church has cause to mourn, For brother Cook is dead, His body to the tomb was borne, His soul is with its head. For twenty years a member he Of C)xford church and kind, And few like him we now can see In Spirit or in mind. * He was a man and christian too. And did most humbly walk; His Master's will he loved to do, Of Jesus loved to talk. POEMS. 73 His loss by many will be felt, His place is hard to find, For the poor his pure heart would melt, To all he was most kind. Of this world's goods he had a store, He freely did use them ; But Christ Jesus he did adore, Sweet star of Bethlehem. His dear less to us was his gain* For here he could not stay ; His soul is now free from all pain, In one eternal day. His wife and children need not mourn, For he is now in love ; 'Tis true his body can*t return, But they may go above. Although on earth they cannot meet They're sure to meet on high, If, like Mary they take a seat. Lowly to weep and cry. The saint that dies is blest indeed. His cares are all over ; He sees who did his poor soul feed, Christ his elder Brother. The church may mourn on his account, His usefulness is gone, 74 POEMS. I He 18 now near the heavenly fouat, And we are left alone. God has left us his holy book, That we may know the road, And copy after brother Cook, Whose soul is now with God. Ever since I got a new birth, I long to go above, And hate* this sin polluted earthy For lack of perfect love. may we all like brother Cook, Depend on Chiist alone; For God has told us in his book^ All things by Christ are done. Marilla Cools. (Double Acrostic.) My daughter dear has gone away, Marilla is no longer here, Above she dwells in endless day, Around God's throne she doth appear. Bound and round her happy sweet soul, Roving about in heaven above, In heaven above wbere peace doth roll. Is filled in one eternal love. Long may we mourn her absence here, Lo ! though we feel the time will come ' Lord do thou our lonely hearts cheer; Lord when shall we with her get borne t Alas on earth we have to part, POEHS. U And leave thoso we do most love here; Come Jesus come, and take ray heart, Christ, when with Thee shall 1 appear ? Oh Lord, do Thou grant me Thy grace. On Thee alone to trust for all ; On me, lift Thy shining faoe, 0, raise me above Adam's fall. Kind was Marilla, now most blest, Knowing hero state, I now shall rest^ Trusting in Christ I'll shortly be, In Jesus blest with Marilla. Sabbatli Cay. Sabbath day is a day of rest, For the labouring man ; For none the poor can now molest, By man, or God's own plan. A day of rest we all do need, For body and for mind ; All good alone from God proceed, He is both ofood and kind. He gives a day, one in seven", That we may meditate; And learn the road that leads to heaven, And know our future slate. The Sabhath gives us time to know,. If we in Jesus dwell ; And if our love does purely flow,. On Christ Immanuel. 76 POEMS. The Sabbath gives us time to think, To meditate, to muse; To know how we escaped the brink, And Spirit oft abuse. The Sabbath gives us time to pray, For all we need below ; And teaches us Jesus the way, To escape endless woe. Tbe Poor Man. A poor man once a vow did make. And would keep it for Jesus' sake ; The vow was this, that he would give Four dollors, as long as he'd live To help the Missionary cause ; And to his vow he made no clause. For many years he kept his vow, At last he broke it for a cow ; For he did wish a cow to buy, Milk for to give his girl and boy; And so he thought he'd give the Lord But one dollar and break his word. The three he kept to help to pay For the cow, and drove her away ; When the spring came, the old cow died, The man felt bad and cried beside; He thought himself alone to blame, He took God's monev, 'twas a shame. POEMS. 77- He lost his cow it was but just, No longer in self would he trust; To the Lord ho would vow again, And vow he did but not in vain; Four dollars and no less heM give, The Lord as long as he should live. Soon the Mission Ladies did call, It made the poor man loudly bawl, For he was unable to pay, No dollar had he that blest day ; It made the man feel sick at heart, And past errors did make him smart. But what to do he could not say, He wished the Ladies far away; As he was willing he would try ; Quickly up stairs he sent his boy, For his ten cent piece for to bring; It had a hole, likewise a string. For it had been many a day, In the poor old man's family ; So the boy came with the money, 'Twas sweeter to him than honey. But the money he would let go. Still he felt sad I well do know. Ladies gone, the man took a walk, He met a fiiend and they did talk ; The friend he met was a rich man, Who for the poor would often plan, 78 rOEMS. M And if worthy he would give, Food to the poor that they might live. The poor man told the rich the tale, How he broke his vow and did fail, How the cow died, but not till spring, What sorrow fo him it did bring; His second vow too, wns broken. He felt the most sad of all men. The rich man said : do always strive To do what is right, here are five; Five dollars now the man did own, Sorrow and grief from him was flown ; He paid the Lord what he did owe, Foace to his heart did quickly flow. For he was glad his debt was paid, Nor did conscience the man upbrairl ; He saw the Lord was good and kind, To those that are upright of mind. Our vows to God we should perform, If not, perhaps we'll meet with harm ; For It is sin a promise make, And afterwards that promise break. Wyoming Church To Church I'll go this Sabbath night. And hear Mr. Brook man ; I trust he will my soul delight, For he is a good man. rOEMS. 79 ril tell the truth in this my song, Tve heard him often preach, His sermons are short, but then strong, The truth doth always teach. I love the man, for he is one On whom I can depend ; And never preached a sermon, Without some good doth end. The reason is, he has got grace, It makes his love to flow. And if you look him in the face, The trutlj youVe sure to know. I trust that I this night shall find Much of what I do need ; The grace of God to fill my mind, My soul on manna feed. Bid Jesus Die. Did Jesus die? Oh! yes he did, 1 love His holy name ; And bv His death our lives are hid, And kept from grief and shame. Did Jesus die ? Oh ! yes 'tis true, For us He shed Bis blood. On Calvary by faith we view, Jesus, both man and God. Did Jesus die for sinners all ? For all who do believe, 80 POEMS. All 6uch be*ll raise above the fall, Though oft thej here do grieve. Did Jesus die, and in man's stead ? O yes he did indeed, And vre are saved by Christ our head, On Him we daily feed. Did Jesus die ? well do I know, He died on Calvary ; How ought our love for Christ to How, Who dwells above the sky. I've Tlirown Away I've thrown away my hawkers pack^ But still I have some pain ; I've got sonie ease for my old back. But labour for my brain. 'Tis true the labour that I do. Is or another kind ; My back it e3s^,s, 'y- inust true. Yet heavy on the mind. I'm getting old, and so I find I canno^ labour ha-d, With ihe body, out with the mind I am a willing bard. ftSt nd so I write from day tc day, Some money for to make; But Tm afraid it will not pay Tb^ cost to Uncle Jake. POEMS. 81 But then I find when I do write, I ^eel most contented ; In truth it doth me much delight I* can't be prevented. As long as life with me doth last, My pencil I shall use, I hope to virtue^ I'll hold fast, Nor other folks abuse. Farewell my muse for this sweet time, I now shall let you rest, But when agair I wish to rhyme With me again you'll meet. Life is the Time. Life is the time for to secure A blissful hope above ; And Jesus came for to procure What we so need an> C.| Ft. B. A pretty sight it is to see, Upon the Sabbath day, Among the children for to be, And teach them how to pray. POEMS, 93 Many boys and sweet girls are here, Of teachers quite a few, And God is here and everywhere; To me 'tis a sweet view. The Sabbath school does please me well, It fills my heart with joy, With gratitude my soul does swell, To see each girl and boy. Each has a soul to live or die, To sink or go above; I hope each teacher now will try To guide the youths in love. That by the Spirit teachers may Guide each dear youth aright, Teach them to watch as well as pray, Until Christ makes them white. Tlie Contrast. In God's blest word we can behold, A contrast theie by Christ is told Of a rich man and a poor one, This dav, I heard in a sermon. The sermon did suit the old bard. And it was preached by my friend Card; The rich man to us he did say, Fared most sumptuously every day, And of food, too, he ate the best. And gaily, too, tho man was drest, i H POEMS. In purple and in linen too, So he appeared to human view. As he did feast a beggar came, And ask for food (0, what a shame), But po, the rich man would give none, For his rich heart was hard as stone. The poor man groaned with sores below, The Lord sometimes doth g''ief bestow, And sometimes makes the samf to smart, That he from earth may wholly part. The poor man died, what a sight, 'For soon there came the Angels of Light, And flew with him to realms above, To dwell with Christ in perfect love. Happy poor man, blest Lazarus, Thy soul is now with sweet Jesus, And now thy sorrows all are flown, For Christ did all thy sins atone. The ricl man died, Jesus doth toll, And soon his soul went down to hell; In hell he lifted up his eyes, And saw what \lid him much surpiisej In Abraham's bosom there lav Poor Lazarus as bright as dav, When the rich man did /ibraham see, He soon saw his iniquity. For memory there ^is most bright, And all we've c'one is brought to light. POEMS. 95 Father Abraham he did say, F nd Lazarus quickly away, (For here no longer can I stay, I suSfor such great agony ;) Send him with water quickly here, For I hell's torments cannot bear; I know alone I am to blaff }, But how can 1 bear this flame. /Ivaham said, son you must know. All earthly joys to you did flow, You had no joys but those of earth, Never receiving a new birth ; Now thy torments are great indeed. But Lazarus on Christ doth feed ; Besides all this I now must say, A gulf between us now dolh lay, You cannot come where we do dwell, Your doom is to remain in hell» Nor can we either go to you, Preserved we are by Christ the Jew. The rich man said, I do pray thee, Send to my father's family, For it thou dost not I do fear. My line brethren will soo* be hcre^ Abraham quickly to him did say, They have Moses who taught the way, And prophets too that they may learn. Or just like you in hell shall burn. nifff' ittTliiiiilfir 96 POEMS. Father Abraham, the rich man said, If one would go but from the dead, They will repent and saved be, That's my feelings I assure thee. No, Moses doth shew the ri;:^ht way, And prophets too, 'tis Christ I say, And if they don't believe God's word. They'll never in peace see the Lord. Nor if one should rise from the dead, Sent there by Christ the living head ; Would they believe, no not one. For sinners don't love God's dear son. Search the scriptures, Jesus did say. In them you'll find I am the way. And I shall take all up to heaven, That the Father to me has giv'n. A Fisher of Men. At W. 0. Springfieldl. I have a good mind to use my poor pen, To tell who is a true fisher of men ; 'Tis borrowed my friends from H. W. Beecher, The celebrated New York bold preacherr He is not afraid the truth for to disclose. For the truth makes him free as I suppose; He tells of a fisher but a bad one, For a fish the poor fellow could ketch none. He has a silk line and a noble pole, But then he has no grace in his lean soul; POEMS. 97 [e's been to College, Le tliinks he is all right, [lit his soul is as dark as Egyptian night. [e wears fine clothes and does look very neat, ^nd a long yarn he knows how to repeat ; [e throws his line up into a tree, Ihe silliest thing that ever could be. [e pulls his line back and tries it again, je throws into a bush, 'tis all in vain ; le tries it again, now do understand ; le throws across the brook and hooks the sand. fi?h could he catch, for he had no grace. id there are many like him, sad disgrace ; it the true fisher cuts himself a pole, id a common hook, with grace in his soul. walks along and soon comes to a brook, has a line, with good bate on his hook ; hook he puts down and soon gets a bite, he is a saint and knows what is right. • ish be has caught, he tries it again, [other is caught the reason is plain, has grace in his heart, love in his soul, it makes a good line, likewise hook and pole, did call the one but not the other, |>8e dandy preachers are but a bother, yet there are many in this world found, [h plenty of speech but empty of sound. E 98 POEMS. God strengthen the true, the false take away, I Alas for the false we see them eaclTclay ; The true are scarce, Lord their numbers increase; And bid the false preachers fishing to cease ; No fish can they catch, no never a one. I But the true can, for they love Thy^dear Son* ] Sunday Niglit. Sunday night has come round again. Soon 'twill be time to go, And praise our Saviour who doth reign^ Where pleasures ever flow. Yes Jesus reigns in regions bright, Beyond this earth of care. Where all is peace, where all is light,. I wish that I were there. Should I this night in meeting pray,. Gi'ant me Lord thy spirit, To guide me in what I do say, Void of creature merit. Slew me my weakness blessed Lord, On thee may I depend, And grant tbat I preserve thy word*, For 'tis the sinners' friend. In it I find all that I need, It shows me Christ the way. As on my journey I proceed, To everlasting day. POEMS, m Frances. Hamburg. About my Frances I must write, She is both good and kind, In her ray soul does take delight. Alone she fills my mind. When I did wed my d^ar Frances, A blessed day to me, My soul that day was filled with bliss, Sweet love and purity. Love that is pure is sweet indeed, There's nothing here below, On it we live, on it we feed. It saves from sin and woe. My Frances yields true love to me, Her love for me is strong, And when above we both shall be, We'll sing Moses' sweetest song. We have no heir it is most true, If God would give us one, With pleasure we the heir would view, A daughter or a son. Soms Men. Some men I find are nearly blind, Or else I cannot see, For they do say that they each day, Are pure as purity. I find that here sin doth appear, And ever will I'm sure, 100 POEMS. 1 1 r il! But when we go where love doth flow, From sin we're then secure. But if we stay on earth I say, Sin will be around us, •lis in us too, both I and you, Yet some say 'tis not thus. 'Tis their glory to be holy. At least they do say so, I'm sure that they mistake the way, And of their goodness flow. I fear that some are far from home, Because they are too good, In self I mean, surely they dream, They lack I fear true food. in Christ we are of God an heir. In self we are but nought. For man is weak in Christ must seek. Whose blood his soul has bought. No good in man yet some do plan, And think themselves most good ; But God can see iniquity, In all the human brood. In Christ we're blest, in him we rest, And ever shall remain ; But sin is here I do declare, And causes me much pain. POEMS. 101 But when we die and go on high, We then shall be most pure, Without, within, most pure, most clean. And ever shall endure. Here we must fight by day and night. For sin is all around, But when we die we'll fly on high. Where sin cannot be found. The Lord's blest prayer poor sinners hear. If you were f'*ee from sin, You would not cry, Lord forgive I, For I am pure and clean. The Triveller. Once upon a time a traveller bold, To me long since the tale was told, Took a long journey, his friends for to see. Which I shall tell in poetry. The tale, like all tales is not quite the thing, Yet a true moral it doth bring, 'Twill show the Christian that he's sure to find^ Much on this earth to vex his mic'. The traveller as he rode one dark night, At a distance saw a great light. And it made him glad, then fast he did ride, Thinking that there he should abide, His supper secure, and his bed likewise. But 0, he met with a surprise. ia2 POEMS. For wbon he camo in at the door, \ He saw a sight that made him roar, But being a brave man he thought that he, ; Would strive to learn the mystery. j ■3 The mansion was large and bright to behold, The boys and girls acted most bold, ■ They were dancing that night, and music ha^ Which made the traveller fee sad. For now he knew what he saw on the floe r, ; When he firsi- came at the door, ! To be a sleeping devil, though but small, | He slept because he had them all. ] i The traveller thought he would not there staj, So on his horse he rode av y, For he plainly knew by w !iat he had seen, j What the sleepy devil did mean. The night was daik, yet he rode away, ■ Until he saw the break of day ; Then he saw a sight in a field of corn, A pilgrim old, and most forlorn. The man was hoeing^corn, and hoed awav, Though devils near him brisk did play ; There were three hundred, and perhaps more, Who at the saint did loudly roar. The old man kept to work, his corn to hoe, For he well knew where he would go, POEMS. 103 Though devils whilst here bother his soul, They soon o*er him shall lose control. The pilgrim had to work, and he worked hard. Against the devils, to keep guard, As a private h*ed to his captain go, For help to conquer every foe. And he very well knew that every day, We'd have to iight satan away ; But then again with luve his heart would swel'i \Vhen ho thought of Irnraanuel, And of that bliss that poor saints shall enjoy, In regions bright beyond the sky, Where no devil nor evil thought can come, how saints long for that sweet home. iBiit for the dancers and drunkards too, That don't believe in Christ the Jew, Whom Satan doth govern body and mind, what a^hell they soon shall find . For here they have no warfare, they don't fight, Bnt in wickedness they delight ; But 0, but 0, can any mortal tell, The state of the sinner in hell. Farewell io Wyoming. Farewell dear friends it is my lot, For on this earth no home I've got, For a short time alone can stay, Then like a bird must fly away. 104 POEMS. No home on earth can I procure, ] Though one would please me I am sure, \ My thoughts to self I have to keep, ] Althouojh I feel like a lost sheep, I My thoughts, no I dare not tell, ; With grief alone my breast doth swell, \ Upon my word I do feel sad, Sometimes I think I shall run mad. 1 My feelings oft I can^t control, A vague hope may pa^s my soul, '{ Then offence I fear I may give. Thus in misery I do live. ] There is one but she shan't be named, j Lately my heart she has inflarael ; How sad indeed is my sad lot, \ My grief is great, no brass I've got, \ Aiid so my thoughts I'll keep them dark^i And learn to live without a spark. j Farewell Wyoming, Sunday Night. It causes me somewhat to grieve, The time is fast cominor. When I good friends will have to leave^ And go from Wyoming. If The best of all that I here found. Was a good widow kind, I'll have (o travel o'er much ground. Such another to find. POEMS. 105 And her dear daughter, my own Jane, Who pitied the poor bard ; Indeed to leave her gives me pain, I think it is most hard. I must not forget my Charlotte, Who has been good to me; And Carrie dear, they are a lot, Thai did my poor soul cheer. Farewell Willie, and David too, Farewell to one and all, My heart does bleed it is most true, Perhaps again I'll call. On Poetry. On sweet poetry my poor mind doth run, From early morning light to setting sun. And when my muse doth propitious flow, My happiness Vm sure but few do know. When on my Saviour my poor soul doth rove, [Betimes I'm filled with pure holy love, My sorrows then do lose their hold on me, md I'm blesvsed iu viewing Calvary. ly vile sins are gone and I feel blast, for I know I shall with Jesus rest, Llthough a sinner one thing I can tell, Lnd that is that I love Immanuel. in loving my Jesus I do enjoy, happiness unmixed with vile alloy ; 106 POEMS. Then my sweet muse will most fluently flow, And the joys that I feel but few do know. poetry to me yields a pleasure, Next to my Saviour my greatest treasure; My poetry like love will ever last, For when in heaven my happy lot is cast* 1 shall there compose sweet and holy lays, And sing them to my dear Saviour's praise ; Sometimes I do long that time for to come, That I may compose in heaven my home. Divorce. Fort Dover Schoolmistress. I heard last night that Willie got A divorce and wife too, If so mine's a most blessed lot, A man I soon shall view. Willie was a cruel man, And ran away from me, And he did likewise form a plan, My babes to steal from mo. And now I hear he's got a wife^ It pleases me full well. For I have led a single life. Though much against my will. As he has wed so I shall do, As soon as I can find, A lad I think that will be true, I've got one in my mind. POEMS. lOT I trust my second, I know I will be happy then, His love for me Tm sure is true , For he's the best of men. Jesus Alone. Je^sus alone is all I need, Having him I have all, ' All true blessings from him proceed, When we on him do call. Jesus alone can answer prayer, Himself he gave to die. To clean the way that we may share True peace beyond the sky. Jesus alone can fill my heart, Without him I am lost, From him I know I ne'er shall part, Though oft by care am tost. Jesus alone, God^s holy son, Can save my soul alive, If I believe with him Vm one, Nor vainly shall I strive. Jesus alone my God T love, For he is God and man. When earth I leave I'll go above, God so for me did plan. Jesus alone my soul doth save, He bought it with his blood ; And his spirit I do crave, To guide me up to God. mm 108 POEMS. Horseback. It is to rae a pretty view, To see a gent and lady too, On horseback canter by, For I was wont to do tbe same, With her I left, 'tis a shame, Poor simple foolish I. Maria was a gentle lass, Sweetly with her the time did pasp, But then 1 was most bold ; I told a tale, she bid me go, Her love for me that once did flow, Like ice it now was cold. Her mother bid me stay away, For I was worthless she did say, A wicked wretched lad; I was sorry, yet I was proud, I had a mind to cry aloud, Indeed I felt most sad* On horseback no more could I ride, With her I thought would be my bride, IBut still could ride alone: I loved Maria without doubt, But when her mother turned me out My heart became like stone. I now am old but still I find To Maria I'm much incliLed, But not the one I've got; HBBBI POEMS. 109 My present wife is monstrous bold, Her heart for me is icy cold, Indeed she loves me not. When three years had rolled away, Mistress Graves sent and bid George say, That T might ccme again; That I her daughter might call on ; But no my heart was hard as stone, Her kindness gave me pain. I now do see what I have been, A foolish youth, both proud and mean, 'Tis true I can't help it; I now repent and feel most sad, Indeed it almost makes me mad, A poor simple poet. On earth Tm sure no peace to find. Lasting I mean, to fill my mind, But when I go above, There I shall be at perfect rest, Among all those that I love best, Where all is perfect love. On The Death of Qly Grandson, George Serze. Little Georgie has gone above. His little soul is now in love: He reigns with Christ in endless light, And as an angel shines most bright. Little Georgie was my grandson, He's now with Christ the holy one. iiiiiftiiliiiBi 110 POEMS. Who made a way his soul to bless, When he sweet babes did once caress Little Georgie's trouules are o'er, His Saviour now he doth adore, He dwells where all is pure and clean, Where nothing foul can enter in. Little Georgie thy mother grieves, For thou did'st fall like autumn leaves, Thy death was quick for thon didst die,. In a short time to go on high. Little Georgie we can't see thee, Until from earth we do get free. And we must wait God's own blest time^ To mourn a little 'tis ro crime. Little George, sweet babe, farewell, Thy happiness we cannot tell, We long that sweet time for to come. When we with thee shall bo at home. T&e Crazy Woman at W. W. Q.'s Store. Springfield. A crazv woman I now see, Yet happy as happy can be; Give her a pipe and tobacco. She then knows no grief or sorrow. Crazy people I often find To happiness they are not blind ; They know but little, nor borrow, Like some people, needless sorrow. POEMS. Ill And like a child, I think they are, For waLu of wit of Christ an heir, For lil:e a babe, they cannot tell The way to heaven or way to hell. They know no good, nor yei evil, They know not God, nor the devil ; Their brains are small, yes, if any, I pity such, for there's many. There are a class of fools, I know. With brains, and oft their wit doth show ; 'Twere better far that they had none, For their vile hearts are cold as stone. They lend their wit to all that's vile. For Satan doth their hearts beguile, And when they die, down, down they go To Satan's home, dire place of woe. To E. M., Fore BurwelL Ellen, my dear, I do feel glad. That you in Jesus dwell, Though once, Ellen, you did feel sad, Your sorrow none could tell. To be born again is God's gift, By the Spirit is givon, From earth away our thoughts to lift. And place them on sweet heaven. The love of God is great indeed, He gave His Son to die, 112 POEMS. And now on Jesus we do feed, He is our only joy. liemember, Ellen, and take care, Your heart is tender now ; Of all Satan's snares, beware. Before your Saviour bow. God bless you, Ellen, sister dear, My soul does love you well, Look up to Jesus, never fear, Though Jordan high may swell. Jacob's Birtliday. Bayham. I sit me down in a pine grove. It is JacoVs birthday ; My only son I truly love, Alas, he's far awa}'. The day is cold, and I feel sad, I want to see my boy, A sight of him would make me glad, He is my earthly joy. This day Jacob is twelve years old, I wish he were twenty; I'm in a grove and do feel cold, • Of joy I am empty. I'm now in churchy I've left the grove, I still think of my son, No earthly being do I love Like him, my only one. POEMS. 113 Of SODS it is true I had two, God took Georgie away, And bim on earth I re'er can view, For he's ia endless day. I do not mourn for Georgie dear, I know he is at rest ; But for Jacob, I do fear, By caie he may be pi est. If I could see my lovely boy It would my poor soul ease, To see him it would give me joy, My soul it would appease. When I shall see my pretty boy Vm sure I cannot tell, But this shall be my sweet employ. My prayers for him shall swell. My God, do Thou protect my boy, Keep him, Lord, from sin ; may his thoughts be placed on high. And that will make him clean. May Thy blest Spirit him direct. To see the cross on high, That he may know he*s Thine elect, That Christ for him did die. That when he grows a man to be Some comfort he will give; That I in him some good may see. If suffered here to live. lU POEMS. Fm getting old, but still I find My health is pretty good; I strive to be content in mind, If not, I know I should. I Heard a Tale: I heard a tnle, it came to me, It gave me grief and pain ; 'Tvvas said I stole my poetry, Of it do I complain . My wit is small, but still I write And do the best I can ; In composition I delight Though but a poor old man. To say that I my verses steal, friends it is too hard. For poetry 1 have some zeal, Though a simple bard. To steal the works of a dead man, Or hving one, I say It seems to me is a poor plan. Nor do 1 think 'twill pay. To steal at best is a great crime, I'm glad I am no thief, But he who steals, and that sweet rhyme. Of thieves he is the chief. But I do love sweet rhyme to make, It cheers my poor old heart ; I never will sweet verse forsake, Or from the muses part. POEMS. 115 Lako Irie. Sunday. I sit roe down upon the ground, In sight of Lake Erie; The lake with ships now doth abound, For I can count forty. The lake has many vessels now, The wind is blowing hard ; Befoie the wind they plough and bow, A sight for the poor bard. It is a shame on this blest day To FQQ the vessels lide, But Captain's think it will not pay At home for to abide. And so I think the most of ships On Saturday leave port, Perhaps my tongue makes some false slips If wrong I do report. On no week dav I*m sure Tve seen Of ships, half as many As I can see just now I ween, And to-day 'tis Sunday, Fear rot. Fear not on Jesus for to call, For he is good and kind ; He can save us from Adam's fall, And gives us peace of mind. Fear not on Jesus for to trust For He is a true friend. t 116 POEMS. He ever id to sinners just, He saves them to the end. Fear not on Jesus to rely God's ever blessed son, For He will take your souls on high, Let us trust him each one. Fear not on Jesus to depend, Nor doubt His loving grace, But fear, my friends, Him to offend^ Who lifts on us His face. Fear not on Jesus to look up. He hath done all things well, For us He drank the bitter cup To save our souls from hell. Fear not on Jesus to confide, But freely own each fault. Then in Him we all shall abide» Onward, let ua not halt. Fear not ou Jesus who is wi^e, As He is God and man ; And no poor sinner will despise. Salvation He did plan* i J. S., fiHalahide. The day h fine, and Sunday, too, The leaves are falling fast, To me they are a pretty view, For long they will not last. POEMS. 117 For soon the trees will be quite bare, The wind will blow them down, And winter, too, is now quite near, And soon the cold will frown. The autumn teaches me that I On earth long cannot stay : That I like leaves must droop and die, And fly like them away. *Tis true they drop down from above, On earth they do remain, But when I die I'll dwell in love On Jordan's happy plain. *Ti8 true that leaves yearly do fall, And man does once but die; Give me Jesus, my all in all, Like leaves then may I fly. The squirrels run among the trees, A pretty sight to see, And chipmonks run among the leaves, Truly they do please me. Yet all I see on earth below Ceases to give me joy, For my pooi heart does long to go To my sweet home on high. This earth I know will never yield Waat my poor soul does love; I want to see sweet Canaan's field, Sweet Canaan far above. riUhflU 118 P OEMS. It. fi> Of this earth I've seen quite enough, And tired of it I be, Nor lonfijer would I its air pufF, If I could but get free. I must wait my appointed time, With patience I must try, To pass the time I make this rhyme Until I go on high. All sin I hate, I do indeed, Yet often go astray, And when I sin, on Ccreb feed, 'Tis thus with me each day. Dinner, Port Burwell. Yesterday at dinner time, My tale I'll tell and that in rhyme; Indeed I thought I was in luck, Ha\'ing for dinner a fine duck. But dear me I soon did stare, In front of me there sat an Hare; A queer one too, the truth I tell. With pride I think his breast did swell. He thought that he would have some fun, Out of a barl and lonely one; The Hare's a teacher I am told, 3^0 doubt his pupils he doth scold, But then I think he bad no right, To put me and my duck to flight; POEMS. 119 For Hare indeed has a swift tongue, The bard has too when its unstrung. And so the Hare and bard did chat, B':»th rather green and rather flat; The bard is quick, I know him well, And easy too his breast will s^vell; For an insult he connot bear, E'en thought 'tis given by an Hare. Stratford Fair, October 4, 1867. It is fair day, and Stratford town Just now is all alive ; Perhaps the folks on me may frown If telling truth I strive. All Lirds of colors can be seen In those the streets do crowd, Some are white, some black, and pea green, And some are very proud. I fear the most on pleasure bent. And love of lucre gain ; If the good Lord don't them prevent, They'll suffer endless pain. The girls I'm sure are a plenty, In squads they walk around. But of sparks they are quite empty, By them they can't be found. Now and again you'll see a lass. As you do pass along. 120 POEMS. That has a spark, but 0, alas, It makes the rest do wrong. For I did hear some lasses sav, As I was passing by, *' I would not with that young man stay, For me he need not try.'^ 'Twas envy made the girls thus talk, 'J heir looks did tell ihe same, For a spark the most would r jalk ; Now is it not a shame ? The queerest trick I ever saw Was a queer lung machine, That you might blow when bosses paw Handled five cents I ween. The stomach sure got no relief, The folks would blow so hard, InBtead of ease they got some giief ; The truth I'm sure to guard. For the enticing cent and dime Many a plan is tried, Nor does a man fear any crime, If he can many stride. In truth the age in which we live, Smells very strong of tin. And each his neighbor will deceiv^ If he but money win. POEMS. 121 And lassies, too, for sake of man, Will labor very hard, To see if they can't lay a plan To catch a fool or bard. On tlie Trinity; Proverbs zzz., 18 ft 19. The wondei*8 of the Holy Three, Solomon did not know, To christians now a mystery, The Spirit doth it show. What Solomon could not find out The Spirit doth make clear; For the Trinity without doubt, Most plainly doth appear. For They are three and yet but one, 0, glorious mystery ; God the Father, Spirit and Son, Eoly Trinity. An Eagle can fly fast away, And soon is out of sight, None can see the Father, I say, He dwells in end!"ss light. Thy ways Great God are wonderful For thou art inilnite ; In thy perfections thou art full, Thy ways are out of sight. The Father we cannot behold, Yet shines thiough His dear Son, 122 POEMS. But in His word, we there are told. What Christ for us has done. The eagle then we must compare When he flies out of sight, As God the Father, by whose care. Our souls shall dwell in light. For God did so poor man's soul love^ He did His Son bestow, And bade Him leave the realms above^ To save poor man from woe. The eagle we will therefore take, And God the Father see, Who gave His Son for poor man's sake^ First of the Holy Three. The second person we can tell, As by a sei*pent seen, It is the Rock Immanuel, 'Tis plain to me I ween. Blest rock of ages, ever blest, Second one of the three, When shall I with Jesus rest One God in Trinity, So by the Rock and serpent too^ The Lamb of God we see, Who once was a wandering Jew^ As well as Deity, m POEMS. 12B A ship at sea will nevev move, Unless the wind doth blow, Nor will a sinner Jesus love Until to Kim he'll go. 'Tis by the Spirit we do know, That we unrighteous are; Of Christ's things the Spirit doth show, And we become an heir. The wind is a type of the Dove, Third person of the Three, how I do the Three-One love Three in one Deity. Solomon doth tell of a man, And likewise of a maid ; That man, my friends, did form a plan Our debts all to be paid . Thai, man was Christ, the Son of €lod, The Church was His dear maid. He left His blissful high abode, On Him our sins were laid. To save His bride Jesus did come, For He's the Church's Groom ; To provide His bride a sweet home, A.nd yet there's plenty room. Yes, room enough for sinnera all. For He did shed His blood To raise poor man above the fall, And bring him back to God, 124 POEMS. In poor old Adam we are lost, But in Christ Jesus found; We little know what it did cost, Our love should much abound. Blary Ann and Caroline Sherk. S. Dorclidster. My nieces both, have gone above, They've left this earth below, Their souls are now in perfect love, In Jesus presence bow. Dear Mary Ann was just fourteen When God took her away ; She now does travel Canaan's green In one eternal day. Pear Mary Ann is free from care, No sorrows now can come; Her Saviour's love she now doth share, Abdve in her sweet home. Caroline was but eleven When she had for to go To dwell with Jesus, in sweet heaven, Where love doth ever flow. She did not wish, my dear niece, mine, On earth longer to stay, She loved to go, sweet Caroline, With sister far away. Caroline was a sweet girl, A Christian girl was she; POE¥S. 125 Around her still my heart doth curl, I long with her to be. No sweeter girl was ever seen, She longed to go to rest, And T shall see a lovely scene When I with her am blest. Early to die, it is a boon By God to mortals given, If in Christ it can't be too soon To leave earth for sweet heaven. My nieces both, I shall see, When I with earth get o'er ; When happy with them I shall be, And Jesus Christ adore. To mourn a little 'tis no crime, For I do feel their loss; Soon I shall go to their blest clime, The road is by Christ's cross. At J, S., Malahlde. Day after day does roll away Still I with John abide, And here I stay from day to day In pretty Malahide. On Monday next, this is my text, I must stay no longer, I must tramp on, leave honest John, Now that I feel stronger. 126 POEMS. Fve had a rest with health am blesf, John and his wife are kind j But I can't stay I must away Another home to find. I seldom stay more than a day, At any farmer's home, For I do love, daily to rove. And think of my sweet home. My home on high where all is joy There is no sorrow there, Nor any sin, nor what's unclean Can in my hom^e appear. The Milllonalre. They say I'm poor, which I deny, For I'm a m'llionaire; 'Tis true my riches are on high, I wish that I were there. I envy none their earthly store, For I'm a millionaire ; For Jesus soon I shall adore, His riches too, I'll share. The bank in which my riches lie. Will make the sinner stare ; It is in heaven far on high, O happy millionaire. When I do leave this earth below, I'll be a millionaire, POEMS. 127 My riches too shall ever flow, A great and goodly share. I thank the Lord, indeed do I, It often makes me stare, That my true riches are on high, happy millionaire. Summer Nights. It is a calm and lovely night, I set among the trees, In composing I take delight, My mind is then at ease. The mind of man should active be, Nor should it run to waste ; So V\\ compose a sweet ditty, Sweet muse, to me do haste. The sun is setting bright and clear, The weather is most hot ; There's not a zephyr in the air, A dead calm we have got. I wish the wind would blow a gale, The weather for to cool; Alas, my wishes can't prevail, I'm nothing but a fool. In winter time we think of spring, And wish the cold away ; When summer time heat doth biing, Again our minds do stray. 128 POEMS. Man's never at ease, I repeat, But is too warm or cold, And always wishes some retreat, That he may fret and scold. It seems most hard we cannot find The weather always nglit; Let's strire for a contented mind, 'Twill cheer and make us bright. I wish I could my mind incite To dwell on Him alone, Who now does dwell jn perfect light,. Who melts ray heart of stone. Jesup, the name, lovely name, That gives me all I want ; May my poor heart be in a flame, After Jesus to pant. New Birth. Ye must be born again to dwell on high, Or else forever ye must die : Kemain dead whilst on earth you "lo remain^ And after death 'tis death again. Ye must be born again, Jesus did say, To be saved 'tis the only way : Born by the Holy Spirit's blessed power, Born forever, not for an hour. Ye must be born again, born from above, Born to dwell in sweet perfect love ; POEMS. 129 For if that birth on earth we do not meet, We cannot dwell at Jesus* feet. Ye must be born again ; holy truth, Alike for the aged and the youth ; The birth is given when to Jesus we look, Jesus tells us so in His book. Ye must be born again, born of free grace, Or you can't see God's shining face; But he that is born again shall ever revSt His all upon Jesus' sweet breast. Near Ingersoll. I sit me down upon the grass, To rest my weary back ; The time as well that I may pass, Close to the railroad track. I long that time with me were o'er, And my pilgrimago done; I wish my Saviour to adore, God's well beloved Son. For here ray state is desolate, I have no constant home ; I wish the Lord would change my state. It doth but slowly come. This world I hate, I do indeed, 'Tis wearysome to me; I'd like to leave, to heaven £>i*oceed, My Saviour for to see. 130 POEMS. How loDfj on earth I shall remain Is not for me to tell, But this I know I have much pain, As long as here I dwell. An Alpliabetical Acrostic. And can I make, and that in rhyme, Before nine o'clock, or bed time ; Come then, ray muse, do thou impart. Do something now to fill my heart : E*en now bestow a lively wit, For I cannot write without it. Gratitude from me ought to flow, How swift my heart should overflow, In view of all that God has done. Justly he views me through His Son ; Kindly for me my Saviour paid ; Lord, on Him my debts Thou hast laid. My love, Lord, do Thou increase, Nor from Thy precepts may I cease ; keep my heart from wandering, Protect me, Lord, from all sinning ; Quiet njy heart, and let me feel Rightly for Thee an holy zeal. So shall I live in peace and love, 'Till I do dwell with Thee above; Useful here whilst I on earth stay, Virtue, l©ve, and that day by day ; When done with all that's here below, X, Y, Z, &, and I let go. POEMS. 131 My Qod, my Heart. My God, my heart, Thou it can see, For Thou all things doth know ; Lord, help me to worship Thee, And help my love to flow. My God, my heart Thou dost know well, Thou knowest I love Thee, And Jesus Christ Immanuel, And Spirit, one in Three. My God, my heart oft doth feel sad, Sometimes it doth feel hard ; Thy Spirit give, then I am glad ; Fm nothing but a bard. My God, my heart sometimes does feel For to run after Thee; Increase, blest God , ray l<^vc and zeal. That I may happy be. My God, my heart from sin keep free. May I alone Thee love, Until I go and dwell with Thee, In perfect love above. Some Folks. Some folks with them its always well, And on Mount Pisgah they do dwell ; If so I'm wrong for I oft find In the valley my sin sick mind. If ethers can on mountain top In peace reside, and ever stop, 132 POEMS. I'm sure it is not so with me. For oft I in the valley be. 'Tis true, sometimes I go above, And like Moses do dwell in love ; But there Fm sure not long to star. For soon I fall and go astray, I go astray, and get a fall, But for a time, and that is all ; For when I look into God's Word, I know Fm held up by the Lord. So if I fall ten times a day, Fve but to look to Christ the way, And though I fall I yet shall stop With Jesus on the mountain top. Christ is above and Fm below, Yet after death Fm sure to go And dwell with Kim, God over all, Who raises man no more to fall. l^-x^. The Bard. I have no home where I cat go, On this poor earth of ours^ But rove about in time of snpw, To me as sweet as flowers. It matters not what I behold, If my mind is at rest; A conscience pure is before gold. In Jesus I am blest. POEMS. 1B3 Although from wife and child away, It matters not to me ; On Christ mv thoughts 1 spend each day, His Spirit blesses me. Sometimes I have for sinners all A yearning in my soul, And wish I were like holy Paul, That eloquence might roll. That something from my tongue might drop, That I something might say, That would the sinner quickly stop. That he Christ would obey. Mary C, Souch Dorchester. There is no name under the sun That I love so dearly ; That name alone should melt a stone, 'Tis the name of Mary, How many Mary*s I do know By reading of God's book, There virtues there they plainly show, And here in Mary Cook, Dear Mary, your*s is a sweet name. The name is spread abroad, It should kindle a holy flame, And praises sweet to God. Of many Mary's I could tell, For many I have seen ; 'I 134 POEMS. And not one but I do love well — I write just what I mean. ] )\ Mary I love you best of all, But still my heart does fear, If at your feet that I should fall, YouM banish me, my dear, (and justly, too.^ •# Sarah B., Malahide. I*m sitting now where Sarah sat When I first saw the maid ; It made my heart go pit-a pat, Dear girl, don't me upbraid. For when I see a pretty lass, It's sure to move my heart ; Alas, the time will come to pass, When we, dear girl, must part. But when you did your fine hair curl. It did me mucb surprise ; Sarah, you are a lovely girl, Or else I have no eyes. Sarah dear, my fate is hard, I was born far too soon ; 1 must leave you, a crazy bard, Before this afternoon. Sarah dear, thine image fair With me Til take away, And trust that we both shall appear With Christ in endless day. POEMS. 135 Eliza Jane B., MalaMde. Eliza Jane is a sweet name, It makes my heart to glow ; Do not, dear maid, the poor bard blame, Eliza now lies low. Eliza's dead, alas, poor me, fler death did cause me pain ; With alcohol I made most free. Upbraid me not, sweet Jane. Near forty years have rolled away Since dear Eliza died ; On this vile earth she could not stay, Short here did she abide. Eliza Jane, excuse my pen, I'm crazy I do fear ; I know I'm not like other men, My heart this morn feels drear. God bless you, sweet Eliza Jane, May you have no sorrow, For I this morn do feel much pain, 'Twill be gone to-morrow. My Mother, Mrs. S., Maiahide. My mother ha«« gone to regions bright, And left this earth of care; In Jesus now she doth delight, And his full love doth share. My mother was a Christian bold, Her walk did prove the same ; 136 POEMS. Although her body now lies cold, Her ecul is in a flame. Yes, in a flame of perfect love, No more care opprest, bhe reigns with Christ in heaven above, In one eternal rest. A happy death dear mother died, And thus to die 'tis sweet; None can her soul from Christ divide. She's now at Jesus' feet. Her death did make her friends feel sad, But why I cannot tell ; In lieu of grief, they should feel glad, In heaven she now doth dwell. Lake Huron. My muse I find is now in tune, And I shall strive to write; It is a lovely afternoon. But soon it will be night. Lake Huron is a pretty lake, The waters are a blue; It pleases much the old bard Jake, As he the lake doth view. On my right hand the land I see, On ray left the bright sun ; The view, I'm sure, does much please me, Beautiful Lake Huron, POEMS. 137 Fve had my tea and do feel glad, For I do need some food , For liunger*s sure to make me sad,. But now I : .al good. The steamer's name is Silver Spray,. I'm no ways uneasy, For she won't with me run away^ For she is quite steady. To Mrs. V. Farewell, dear lady, I must go, But where I cannot tell ; I know my heart with love does flow For those that use me well. Dear lady, your husband and you Will oft my thoughts engage. For friends you have proved most true y By money friends we guage. I have not found a single friend In other than in word; An absent thought on me do lend. And I shall thank the Lord, To Mr. and Mrs. V. I long to see my friends Verey, The reason is most plain : For I did find that they were kind. Their goodness I proclaim. The first sweet pair, I do declare. That took note of the bard ; 138 POEMS. 9 m w liiv m ii For them I feel a sincere zeal, If not, my heart is hard. I do feel glad, no longer sad, For 1 have found a pair That do me note for what I wrote; It doth my poor heart cheer . Verey and wife, all through my life I'll bear them on my mind ; My gratitude, although its rude; For them I'm sure to find. And when I see Madam Verey 'Twill cheer my poor old heart ; Because, you see, with her I'm free, And she is very smart, Verey is one that's full of fun, He feels always happy ; And when I find my friend so kind, With his panorama, I'll let him know my love does flow For him and his lady ; Although I'm rude, my gratitude • Will be shown for Verey. Memento Mori. Memento Mori is seldom the cry, That sinners are apt for to make, For they have no birth but of mother earth, Of that alone they do partake. POEMS. 139 Memento Mori if we place our eye, And let our thoughts on it ponder, *Twill soon let us know that we soon must go, 'Nor stay on this earth much longer. Memento Mori will make some men sigh, For the thoughts of death they do hate, For they'd rather here dwell in constant fear, Than by Jesus exchange their fate. Memento Mori the wise can espy, For they know that 'twill soon be here, For it they do long, to sing Moses' song, For of poor death they have no fear. Memento Mori will give the saint joy. For death to him will ease his pain ; For here he knows he cannot long dwell, And death to him is endless gain, Memento Mori, hear sinners the cry, For soon death will take you away ; Be advised by me, look to Calvary, For Jesus your debts did all pay. Memento Mori you are sure to die, If but in Jesus you are blest ; For Jesus will keep his lambs and his sheep. And with him shall evermore rest. How apt we are. How apt we are my friends to stray, From Jesus Christ the truth the way ; How apt we are to forget him, The shinning star of Bethlehem. ^ 140 POEMS. fill ill liiiiil: fiij How apt we are to love this earth, That gave to us our earthly hirth ; How apt we are our griefs to tell, Yet willing still on earth to dwell; How apt we are for to complain, Yet on this earth would still remain ; How apt we are v-zith care oppressed, Still on this earth we seek for rest. How apt we are bj sorrow driv'n, Seldom to place our thoughts in heav'n ; How apt we are too place all good, In wearing clothes and eating food. How apt we are, but sometimes find^ Our earthly goods fill not the mind ; How apt we are to strive to gain, The power over grief and pain. How apt we are from him to stray, Who all our debts for us did pay; How apt we are to leave undone, And not depend on God's dear son. How apt we are to remain blind, And never never Jesus find ; How apt we are not for to see, The Lamb of God that died for me. The Son of Marr. The Son of Mary was a Jew, And God's only blest Son ; The Son of God, and Mary's, too, what an holy one. POEMS. 141 The Son of Mary, blest Lamb, One of the holy Three; He is both Man and great I Am, holy Trinity. The Son of Mary I do love, And so I ought to do : By Him my soul shall go above, O holy, blessed Jew. The Son of Mary, God divine; He came to earth below To save your soul, and likewise mine, how our love should flow. The Son of Mary, what grace. He left Hia high abode, And met with sorrow and disgrace, To biing us home to God. The Son of Mary I adore, His blood He shed for me; I shall love Him more and more, * In Him I am most free. The Son of Mary I do find Is just what I do need ; He feeds ray body and my mind. All good from Him proceed. The Son of Mary kept God's law In my room and my stead ; He kept it all without a flaw. And saved me from the dead. 142 POEMS. The Son of Mary is most just, He did God's justice fill; And I do wholly on Him trust, yes, and ever will. The Son of Mary is my all. On Him alone I trust; He saves us all from Adam's fall, In Hira we shall be blest. The Son of Mary, Lamb of God , His blood for us He shed ; To us He gave His holy Word, To guide us from f o dead. The Son of Mary, ever blest, On Thee I do depend ; With Thee I know Tm sure to rest. For Thou art my best Friend. The Son of Mary, holy One, 1 long to see Thy face ; Thou hast for mo all things well done, And saved me by Thy grace. The Son of Mary, God and Man, Two natures both in one ; God's lova was great to form the plan, To give Hia only Son. The Sou of Mary, God the Son, We praise and bless Thy name; Father, Spirit and Son are one, My soul may They inflame. POEMS. 143 The Son of Mary, ever blest, When shpll I be with Thee; O when shall I from all sin rest, In perfect purity , Diffidence. Once more my God I do complain, My diffidence is great. It causes me both grief and pain, Such is my helpless state. Great God I beg for Jesus sake, My diflBdence dispel, It almost kills poor Uncle Jake, She is an imp of hell. My usefulness she takes away, And makes me useless here ; Kill her my God, do I pray. Or she'll kill me, I fear. I would be useful, yes I would, And forward in thy cause, But diflBdence keeps me from good, And makes me break thy laws. Thy help blest Jesus I do crave. Against dame diflBdence, Do then my God my poor soul save, For great is her offence. My usefulness she takes away, And grief of mind doth cause, 144 POEMS. Makes me from duty often stray, As well as break thy laws. Sins of omission I commit, By diffidence's power; No longer Lord, do thou permit But kill her this blest hour UatUda «ilen, MalaUde, Feb. 6, 1867. "Bonoftth the sod soon will be laid, The body of a blooming maid ; Matilda Allen is no more, She's left this sinful earthly shore . Her body soon will bui-ied be, Iler soul is now with Deity, The time will come when body too, Again shall be brought in full view. When soul and body again meet, 'Twill be around God's mere ' seat; what a sight to be found tnere, In holy bHss Christ's love to share. Matilda, if in Christ she be, How happy is her destiny ; 'Tis gain to die, if we are those Who Jesus Christ in life did choose. 1 trust Matilda knew her Lord, And oft perused His holy word : If that's the case, she now is where Her Saviour's io^ her soul will cheer. POKMS A child of Qodli^TT^^Tbii^ Though body lies beneath the earth • Hor soul will be in heav'n above, T-.ere to remain in perfect love. Farewell Matilda, thou art gone, Thy body now lies cold as stone; boon thy soul and body shall be United in eternity. I Long to Die. I long to die and fly away, To fly away from sin ; I want lo be in endJess day, Where all is pure and clean. I long to die, the reason's plain. Here sin doth much abound • On Jordon's plains there is no pain, For sin there can't be found. I long to die and be at rest, Where sin can never come; I want to be among the blest. In heaven my happy home. I long to die to sin no more. My soul it then will %, My Saviour quickly to adore, Above, beyond the sky. I long to die, for here I find, Nought but sin and sorrow; o 145 POEMS. Here I can't get what fills mj mind, Lord take me to-morrow. I long to die that I may be, Free from all sinful care, That I ma) dwell blest Lord with iheOy And thy sweet love to share. I long to die for I am weak. My strength is almost gone, Help me my God, Jesus to neck, ' And melt my heart of stone. I long to die, my heart doth pant. For thee my blessed God, Give me Jesus 'tis all I want, And his most holy blood, I long to die, for Jesjn came/% My poor soul to procure, ! And if I sin it is a shame, ' But in Christ I'm secure. \: . Bramles'fl Brewery. One morn I saw a dreadful sight, And yet it makes me think, A mother smart and very brio-ht. Except that ehe would drink. That morn had died a mother fair. In Bramley's Brewery She lay on straw, I do declare. Sad sight of misery. POEMS. 147 ,- — '-♦- .-'^ She left three childreD, perhaps four, rm sure T have forgot, They did weep hard and loudly roar, At their unhappy lot. Upon the straw the mother died, Rum was the cause of it, Some said 'twas something else beside. Some said it was a fit. The mother was a soldier's wife, A drunken sot was she, She drank liquor all through her life, As plainly knov;n to me; Forty yeai-s may now hav« rolled away, Since that poor mother uied, As for the children I can't say. Where they now do abide. I wish them well where e'er they be^ And hope they're sober too; For liquor's effects they did see, With mother full in view. Their mother left them orphans all, When on the straw she died. They now may wander on this ball, If on earth they abide. Perhaps they've gone and if its so, I trust they've gone above ; For here on earth they had much woe, But now are filled with love. 148 POEMS. I hate liquor, of it I sing, It is a curse to man ; For like a serpent it will sting, To work out Satan's plan. lord's Day. Beautiful morn this Sabbath day, The sun shines bright and clear, keep me Lord in the right way, By love and filial fear. Beautiful morn help me to write, A song of praise to thee, May T alone in Christ delight. Who gave himself for me. Beautiful morn when we ca rest, From labor and from care. When we can think of Christ the blest, And of him have a share. Beautiful morn delightful day, By God the Father giv'n. In which to watch as well as pray, And meditate on heaven. Beautiful morn, my soul do thou Admire the works of God, To Jesus humbly, meekly bow, For thee he shed his blood. Beautiful morn both calm and clear, My mind does feel at rest ; POEMS. 149 For thou my God my soul dost cheer, In Jesus I am ble.nds may go; The best of friends sometimes do stra", Which causes grief and woe. Dear Jane, your friendship I do prize, A friend I know you've been; I trust we*ll meet above the skies, On Cannan's happy green. And '^hen you hear, dear Jane, that I Have left this earth below, O may you meet me in the sky. Your friendship for to show. 176 P0EM9. Tlie Londoner. A rich gentleman in London did dwell, "Who had a daughter, whose bosom did swell For a noble youth who her lifei did er^-^e, When she was drowning and near to her grave. On the Sepertine the daughter did slide, When the ice gave way and in she did glidej The father did scream, and ru^ming about, In hopes that some would his daughter take out. All were afraid to dive under water, To save the life of the rich maa's daughter, Until a fair youth of humanity, I will dive and get her, or die, said he. And he dove far under the water, And soon he brought up the rich man's daughter ; When from the river they did take her out, The doctors did say she is dead without doubt. But soon the fair maid gave tokens to all. That she was not dead, but gently could call, Which pleased her father, and he did enquire For the noble youth, to give him his hire. When the youth <;ame, the fatlier did say, • Come here, noble youth, you now I must pay ; For my daughter's life you truly did save: But for you she would have had a waiery grave. As you have proved yourself most brave and bold, I now present you ten thousan:! in gold, POEMS, 177 Your money, kind sir, I cannot receive ; In offering me money you much do me grieve, No money Til take, no money I crave; But I'm glad that I your daughter did save ; The father went away, and the daughter came; Noble youth, says she, yoa are much to blame, For not receiving what father would give, For, His by you., noble youth, that I live; Here, take this pui-se, for in it you will find Money enough to suit your little min^. Oive me the purse, the noble youth did say ; He took the purse and then threw it away ; dp jumped the lady, before him did stand. And reaching out to him her fair white h&nd — Will you take that then, or must we soon part; I'll take it says the youth, with all my heart ; So the wedding took place without delay, - And humanity was rewarded that day. No happier couple could ever be seen A walking around the Serpentine green ; The father was happy, and the daughter, too And the noble youth, the story 'tis true. Jacob. I long to see my bonnie boy, — I have an only son — He is my chief, my earthly joy, My child a nd youngest one. 178 POEMS. The rain keeps me away from home; I trust it soon will s'op; Fm lonesome for the time to come. With Jake to spin the top. I love to play, and spend the time "With my dear little boy ; I likewise love to make a rhyme^ My time for to employ. I wish the rain Would go away, That I might travel on, For here I love not for to stav ; I want to see my son. And when we meet Vm sure to be In mind most contented, For my son Jake I long to see — By rain Fra prevented. Maria. My love for Maria was most sincere, But alas! she loved me not; Twas the want of her love I much do fear. That made me a drunken sot. My troubles and trials I'm sure did springy From her hatred, alas I to me, And when my heart at her feet I would fling. How cold and forbidden she'd be . 1 my love was pure, but then I was youngs True and open hearted was I ; POEMS 179 Something or other did drop from my tongue, And Maria bid me good bye. I took to drink for to drown my care, 0, it was a very bad thought, For the more I drank the greater my share Of misery to me it brought. I'm sober — Maria is fifty-eight, She must be looking very old ; I am sixty, and as yet do walk straight. And am a roving hawker bold. Estelle Manning. Of Estelle I must now relate. Her past as well as present state ; Her present state I first shall tell, What she does do as well as dwell. As for her doings they are small, Almost, indeed, nothing at all ; The money she got from a fool. Her little soul it now doth rule. The interest only is used, She got from him she so abused ; Her place of residence I'll tell — In London City sho doth dwell. A cruel girl, yet quite pretty, And furthei, too, she is witty; With wit and beauty she did plan How to swindle a silly ina 180 POEMS. Estelle was poor, in London dwelt, TLe depths of poverty she felt; Her native place she did forsake, Her object was money to make. She left her home, did cross the sea, And landed in Louisiana ; At New Orleans she did reside, Gave out she was an injured bride. Her beauty and her sorrows won The affections of Charles Mason, A merchant rich, in love so deep For Estelle that he could not sleep. Soon Charles told Estelle how he felt, It made her heart for Charles to melt; She owned she loved him most sincere, But of their union she did fear. Dear Charles, said she, I am a wife, But 0, I've led a wretched life I My husband is so cross and sour, I wish he were dead this blest hour. But as he lives, I cannot wed. Unless divorced, or be were dead. Estelle, my dear, Mason did say. Haste to London, do not delay. Enter a suit, a divorce get, When we shall be most happy yet ; With thee, Estelle, I hate to part, For I love with all mv heart. POEMS. 181 Go dear, go, that you may be free From the monster that married thee; Spare no money, I'll pay the cost, Without you, dear, I do feel lost. Enter the suit, do lawyers feed, Draw on me when money you need ; Push the suit as fast as you can, For your husband is a mean man. A man that can abuse Estelle Is not fit on this earth to dwell. Dear Charles, says she, you are most kind, And you alone can fill my mind. My heart you've got, how I burn The divorce to get and return. They went aboard of the ship, There Charles did kiss Estelle's sweet lip. There took his leave of the sweet dame He thought so gentle and so tame ; He little knew that his Estelle Would take his cash and life as well. The ship did soon put out to sea, And Estelle felt happy and free, For now, says she, I have a plan To become rich without a man. For men I hate, I them detest, In truth to me they are a pest ; I shall live single all my life, Though Charles believes I am a wife. 182 POEMS. I have some wit, be it but small, Mason's money I'll have it ail. The sea was rough, the winds did roar, But soon EstelJe did get on shore. A house she did hire with a lot, She then commenced her pretty plot : She wrote to Charles and thus did say, For you, dear Charles, I pray each day. The suit is pending, and I trust We'll win the suit, for it is just; Of money now I pray you send. As you did promise me, my friend. Farewell, dear Charles, I have no time To write you more, in prose or rhyme; For to our lawyers I must go And coax them, for they plead so slow. Charles got his sweet Estelle's letter, He was sick, but soon got better ; Twenty thousand dollars he sent. Which sum, though large, need not prevent. He said, my dear, the suit push on, And soon you'll bo Mistress Mason ; My love is strong, how I feel. And none but you my heart can heal. Dear Estelle, quick, quick, get free. Get your divorce and marry me ; With patience I'll wait until I hear From you again, my lovely dear. POEMS, 18S When the letter EsteJle did get, Mine, says she, is a noble net ; Twenty thousand dollars Tve got, Indeed it is a pretty lot. Twenty thousand more I'll procure, It will be enough I am sure ; "When forty thousand I do own ni cheat no more, but live alone. I think I'll write Mason again, And not to give him too much pain, I'll write for ten thousand, no more, And say my money's run ashore. And so she wrote, but told a lie. Her cash was in a bank close by ; She told Charles the suit now must stay, For she the lawyers could not pay. Charles thought it queer, but could not tell, Ten thousand more he'd send Estelle, Which when she got, dear, said she. Ten thousand more will make me free. After a while Estelle wrote again. And begged of Charles to ease her pain ; For, said she, the suit is near o'er. Still I require ten thousand more. Which sum, I am sure, will be all For which on you I e'er shall call ; send the money, my Charles dear, Do send it, do without fear. / 184 POEMS. Charles thought it strange, he felt most sad, His loss of money made him mad ; But, said he, I will send the last, 'Twill join Estelle and me quite fast; A ud when we meet, though poor we be, Her love and truth will bless poor me. Charles sent the nioney quick across, He little knew his awful loss. When Estelle the cash did behold, now, says see the story's told ; 1 now must write and tell Charles all, The law suit's lost, it makes me bawl. With my old husband I must stay, Unless I sin and run away; Which, dear Charles, you know I can't do, So I am forced to say, Adieu ! When Charles the letter did receive, It caused him greatly for to grieve ; She's got my money, lost the case. Filled me with grief and with disgrace. I cannot live, no, not I, Sooii to this world I'll bid good bye ; I am so full of grief and pains, I'm sure I'll soon blow out my brains ; Charles put the pistol to his head. Pulled the trigger and fell down dead. POEMS. 185 Sprlngfleld, Oct. letb, 1866. To-day I trust I'll have a feast, For I expect this day To see the people called Menist, And hear them sing and pray. And I am told they i5reach likewise, And preach what is most true, To guide poor sinners to the skies, Where dwells Jesus the Jew. Of course I cannot tell till I Have heard the preacher preach, For some do preach, and preach a lie, And some the truth do teach. And when I hear the truth is told, I then my mind enjoy, For truth, my friends, is before gold, It yields a perfect joy. All Truth came once to earth below, And here awhile did dwell, And suffered sorrow, grief and woe — Then died Immanuel. Yes, Jesus died and shed his blood To redeem our poor race. That we with Him may dwell with God, Procured by sovereign grace. For without grace poor man were lost, *Fcr could he go to heaven : \ A^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) y ■^ ^ iio /- >4 L^*/ r/j 1.0 I.I 1.25 25 g;5 |28 1^ III 22 u 1^ lit tut 1.4 IIIM 1.6 V] <^ /i ^^ /: V /A 186 POEMS. For man's vile sin Christ paid the cost, His blood for man was given. how should man the Saviour love For what he did bestow : He shed his blood, then went above To save poor man from woe. And now he pleads before the throne, For all who trust in him, And all who do depend alone On Christ of Bethlehem. Tli9 Barber's Ghost. ^^ Do you want to be shaved ?" the constant cry, When in a curtain bed-room you would lie ; And why it was so, I now shall relate, For the truth of the tale I now shall state. A traveller one night stopped at an inn, The landlord would not keep him— 'twas a sin, For lie said his bods were all taken up ; But of gin he said he'd give him a sup. ** For your liquor, landlord, I do not care, But I want some food and bed I declare ; I am tirad and have been riding all day, And have money and am willing to pay. *^ So grant me a bed and let me lie down. Although a poor man, I'll give thee a crown .'* ** Stranger," says the lardlord, *< there is one room, But if vou sleep there sealed will be your doom ; POEMS. 187 For in that room a poor barber was killed, Nor can bis gbost to this day be kept still'd : iy soul will fly where love doth flow. happy day, may it soon come, When I shall see my heavenly home, That time alone the Lord doth know, When my poor soul to him shall go.' The time to me it doth seem long, I want to learn to sing a song, A song so sweet that none can sing, But subjects of an heavenly king. I. £. S. M. My muse is dull this blessed morn, I feel, indeed like one forlorn, But why, Tm sure I cannot tell, I know I love Immanuel. And why I love him 'tis, most plain, He first loved me, I love again, For love is pure, my God's love for me, And I love Christ of Galilee. I wish my love would stronger grow, That evil thoughts no more might flow, For evil thoughts do make me grieve And yet bad thoughts I oft receive. ' From whence they come I now shall tell, They spring from Satan out of hell ; They are a thorn to keep me low, ' Lest I be proud of virtue below. ' 206 POEMS. For evil thoughts do humble me. And makes me look to Calvarv, Where I by faith Jesus do see, As he did shed Lis blood for me, I Lamb of God, I long to leave Where evil thoughts ray soul does grieve, I want to be in heaven above, Where all is purity and love. I long to go and rest with Thee, Lamb of God, when shall it be ? 1 want with earth, Lord, to part, 'Tis sin alone that makes me smart, And sin will be on earth, I know, For virtue here is mixed with woe. Satan is prince of this vile air, Injects his poison, I declare; Is suj0fered here our souls to vex, Which oft it doth my soul perplex. For evil thoughts o'er me doth roll. And they do vex my sin-sick soul. And I expect, whilst here I stay, 'Twill be thus with me day by day. Do I hate sin ? Ah, yes I do. It vexes me, it is most true; It makes me long to be away, To dwell with Christ in perfect day. Where evil thoughts no more can come ; My soul does long for that sweet home. Sabbath, May 3rd. 'Tis Sabbath morn, and I do find, In my dc.:ir Saviour peace of mind ; 'Tis a sweet morn, this third of May, The sun shines bright, 'tis the Lord^s Day. 'Tis Sabbath morn, my heart's at rest. My thoughts do run on Christ the blest. And when my thoughts on Him I place, God fills my soul with His free grace. 'Tis Sabbath morn, God's blessed day ; He gives us time to watch and pray, And when our minds on Jesus run, Our happiness is then begun. 'Tis Sabbath morn, and we may hear, If in Christ's church we do appear, Some solemn truths to cheer us on The way that leads to God's dear Son. 'Tis Sabbath morn on earth below. Our joys do here but partial flow, But when we die and go above, 'Twill be a Sabbath of pure love, Sabbath. 3lst May. 1868. My Saviour, mine, on Thee I trust, No other Saviour need ; In Thee the Father counts me just, I'm blest by Thee indeed. My Saviour, mine, may I rely On Thee for all I want, m ii 208 POEMS. Until I dwell with Thee on high, My heart no longer pant. • My Saviour, mine, I hunger here, My poor soul wants more feed ; Do Thou, dear Jesus, my soul cheer, And give me all I need. My Saviour, mine, I don't merit, By aught that I can do, A hope of heaven, but Thy Spirit Tells me in Thee, 'tis true. My Saviour, mine, ever bestow Thy Spirit on poor me ; Then I am sure where I shall go, When I from sin am free. The Lecture on Temperance, at T. B.'s Brick Churcli, W. N. On Monday morning I left my friend Clark, And got to Mister CaspePs before dark, And Mistress Caspel would not let me go, Until her hospitality she'd show. And so I did stop and with her took tea, The time did pass quick, and most pleasantly; After supper I did ask friend Caspel, If he would go with me to the chapel, And hear the gentlemen lecture that same night ; He made excuses, I put them to flight. We had not to walk, for we got a ride, With friend Griffin and sweet lassies beside. POEMS. 209 I As usual I had little to say, ■ Our journey ended with nothing to pay. |ro the chapel we went, our ears to feast, I No lecturer there nor yet a priest, ■ So we had to wait, and it was a sin ■ To nee the boys and girls most pleasantly grin. ■ The girls are pleasant, always do look kind, ■ But when they grow older oft change their mind; ■ fhen young they will smile, when old they will frown, I have seen it oft in country and town. ■And know by experience what I state ■To be the truth, 'tis mine at any rate. ■After a while the lecturei's did come ■And when I saw them, I thought of my home, lly home where my wife and my children dwell, jAiid the thoughts of them made my heart to swell. JThe lecturers were from St. Mary's town, lind the chairmen were Messrs. B'k & B'n • Bow B'n got a chair it puzzles me out, * Pat B'k had a right without the least donbt, ior B k had the votes, the most I declare, Phough B'th had a few a very small share. Fell B'n took a chair in spite of them all, Fo help B'k condemn old King Alcohol; f n was the big one, B'k did look quite small, pa B'n was addressed by lecturers all; 'm B'k I felt sorry and thought it hard "♦ he should be (0) as well as the bard, 210 POEMS. For Uncle Jake is a temperance man, And wanted to lecture, such was his plan. Ho wanted to lecture in rhyme or in prose, And tell a little of what he knows, But he is poor and that is cause enough For rejecting him (poverty is tough). The first lecture we got was a good one, 'Twas given to us by Doctor W'n; He told so many truths that without doubt Old Kinor Alcohol was turned inside out. He told so much, but I could not eat all, Although I am no friend to Alcohol. As I don't like jarring I'll say no more My love for alcohol has run ashore. About this time I saw Mr. B'n grin, And what he did say I thought a sin ; Im As he looked he saw that close by the door, Bp Was a rich man, rich as a Russian boor. As rich men are big and poor men are small, Mister B*n thought B — m — n was worth them all, So he told Dennis to sit in a chair, That the poor on him might most freely stare. But Dennis knew better, he was too wise, And Mister B'n blarney he did despise; About this time I felt pain in my bones. When who should address us but Lawyer Jones. POEMS. 211 [ffe spoke so well and told so much truth My pains soon left me I felt like a youth; For the truth my friends I always love well, The truth is sure to mke my poor heart swell. Jluch truth I did L.ar, but then we must make A small allowance for charity's sake; Nor expect that men all the truth can tell, jAs long as they on this poor earth do dwell. two lectures we had and both very good, jOiu- intellects fed with the best of food ; Fhen the meeting broke up, I went away, IFor I had no business longer to stay. The Indian. Turkey was an Indian bold. Of Muncey Town was he ; The tale to me I'm sure was told By a missionary. Poor Turkey was an Indian wild, A lover of whiskey; He was his father's witty child, But wild, 'twas a pity. From Muncey Town he went away, Some liquor for to buy, And long from it away did stay, To drink the whiskey rye* When he came back, it is the truth, He was h^ a queer plight : 212 POEMS. Iij rags and stripes came back the youth, A wretchecl, woeful plight,^ His pastor asked him for to tell . What he had been about; He quick replied, " IVe been in hell. Of that I hare no doubt," The pastor said, ** You must be wild, To tell su^'h a strange tale; Come let me hear the truth, my child, Let truth lor once ore vail." " Now, then," says Turkey, " I shall tell, Pastor, the truth to thee : Yes, I have been in a bad hell ; Now listen, do, to me, ** Hell is a dark and dismal hole, But soon they made it light — The devils put fire to the coal, My sight they soon did blight. * ** And they have coal in hell, Tm sure, I heard a devil say, * Fire up,' so coal they must procure; I wished I was away. " It smoked so hard it gave me pai*:, Then loudly I did pray ; My prayer I found was not in vain, The fire they took away. POEMS. 213 But soon again Satan did say, * Ho, ho, fire up again ;' I wished the devil far away, As it gave me great pain . " I on my knees did cry aloud, It scared Satan, no doubt. And I did feel a little proud, Again the fire was out. " IJelt some ease for a good while, But Satan came again, • I ^eard him cry, it made me boil, And filled me full of pain. *'' Fire up, fire up,' old Satan said, ■Down I fell on my knees, And prayed aloud, then Satan fled, It much poor me did please. *'T saw no more of fi/e or smo^ ;, I prayed Satan away, Satan did run, it is no joke; Pastor, 'tis good to pray. ''At last I heard the devil say, ' Take a hold of the rope,' And I the word did soon obey, In spite of priest or Pope. '' They drew me up, far, far on high. Until I saw the light; 0, pastor dear, it gave me joy, It did me quite delight . 214 POEMS. " And now, you see, I've been in hell, It is a dreadful place; The truth, pastor, to you I tell, Openly, to your face.'* The pastor said, '^ Now, poor Turkey^ Do you take my counsel, And keep away from all whiskey,. That you may flee from hell. ** For whiskey is a cursed thing, And Indians should not drink, For like the devil it will bring Poor Indian to hell's brink. I am Lonely. I am lonely, the reasons plain, Tyiy wife has gone away ; But this I know I shan't complain, For she's in endless day, I am lonely, but st'.ll I find A balm in Jesus' same; For he to me is ever kind, To mourn it is a shame. I am lonely, but still I strive, Contented for. to be; As long as I shall be alive Looking to Calvary. POEJMS. I am lonely, but this I know, ■ I have a Lope most bright. For when I die Vm sure to go - To dwell wi[h Christ in light. I am lonelj for a short time, For soon I'll go to rest, And see mj wife in her sweet clime,. Above araoiig the blest. 21& Springfield. Here I am this blest Sabbath day , With my friend William Cook; I wish I could both watch and pray,. And read with care God's book. The Lord to me is very kind. His ways are likewise clear; Where e'er I go true friends I find. My poor soul for to cheer. ^My cares are small indeed they are, Nor do I suffer want; My God of me he doth take care, My heart with love should pant. I merit nothing, no not I, I oft do go astray ; It grieves the poor poetic boy, And that from day to day. 216 POEMS. But this I know the Lord will keep, All those that Jesus trust, He knows His laraba as well as sheep, For he is good and just. Mary Hurley. The Lord's prayer I saw one Lord's night, But not a word could hear ; To me it was a solemn sight, Performed by Mary dear. Her eyes were shut her looks most chaste, A pretty sight to mej Her hands did speak, no time did waste, Lovely Mary Hurley. If I were young, the truth I tell, Inu other maid I*d wed, With her, and her alone would dwell. How still would be my bed. O Mary is a charming maid, Although she cannot hear, She's got a good and honest taade, The sweet and lovely dear. If I were rich I should provide, That Mary should not want ; If I were young she'd be my bride, Alone for her I'd pant. POEMS. 217 Beech Tree (L. B.) I sit me down by a beech tree, To know ifl can tell What I do now so plainly see, Lake Erie's waves that swell. The white caps show their heads 'tis true, The wind is blowing hard, The waters are of varied hue. Most pleasing to the bard. But O I wish the mud away, The color mud I mean, When I along the beach do stray, To me it spoils the scene. Beyond the shore the waters are Striped with green ai d blue, A pretty sight I do declare, As I the lake do view. Another thought I must not slip. For lately did pass by, Some miles from shore, a noble ship, Which I now can't espy. The ship has sailed far out of sight, She is now lost to me; To those on board it gives delight, For soon in port they'll be. How happy is the sailor lad, And he that hath a wife, To get on shore it makes them glad, And cheers their noble life. 213 POEMS. Soon to his home poor Jack will run, His wife and children see, And if he has a pretty Hon How happy he will be. The sailor lad to Nancy goes, O wed me, dear, says he, And that will end our earthly woes. And happy we shall be. Another ship has hove in sight, But oh she's far away, Perhaps she'll land this very night. If not another day. Another ship, I do declare, And that makes number three. Of writing more I must take care. Or hungry soon I'll be. I want to smoke, indeed I do, And I do think it's time; With viewing, then, I must get through. Nor must I longer rhyme. My muse won't stop, for I do see Two ships on the water; A pleasing sight it is to me. Just like son and daughter. I have a girl and noble boy, If I these two could see, Twould fill my heart, T know, with joy. Far more than Lake Erie. POEMS. 219 The ships are now both out of sight, The waves are rolling high, It's time for me no more to write. But bid the" ^^^^ good^bje, JoJia Kant. John Kant was a most noble man, In Cracow he did dwell, He'd speak the truth, such was his plan, And practice it as well. He was a preacher, good and kind, A noble man was he. Few preachers like him can we find, Like John of Silesia. When John was old his head was white. He took a notion then To Yisit home with sweet delight, Just like some other men. His business he did settle all Before he left Cracow, Not knowing but that he might fall Among robbers you know. One night as he did ride along, His thoughts on God alone. He heard a noise both loud and strong. His musings then were gone. The noise was made by robbers bold, It did alarm John Kant, Who gave all he had, and untold, He knew what they did want. 220 PdEMS. He gave a purse of silver coin, Gold chain off of his neck, And cap of lace they did disjoin, They made of him a wreck. Off his finger he took a ring, And gave the wretched crew, And his prayer book, which tears did bring- He gave them all he knew. When Kant was done the robbers cried, Can't you give us some more? No, Kant did say, but then he lied, Of gold he had a store. The robbers told him to go on. Although his horse they kept; He soon felt something hard as stone. And that before he slept. The lum]5 he felt was shining gold, Which John Kant had forgot; He thought the truth he surely told. Of gold he had a lot But John felt bad; he thought he lied, With shame his face did burn; I can but one way my shame hide, And that is to return. So back to the thieves John did go, And told them plain enough That he had gold, but did not know He had the worthless stuff. The robbers would not take the gold , Their hearths were made some soft; POEMS. The truth, my friends, if always told, Will carry us aloft. The thieves did all to Kant restore Of all the goods they took, And Kant could bless and could adore, For straight was made his crook. And now John Kant did travel on, Peace o'er his mind did roll, He thought of Jesus, God's dear Son, Most happy in his soul. Tne Youtli. A youth once did in Belfast dwell, The truth of him I now shall tell. He was a drunken useless lad. His conduct made his father sad; And oft he strove for to abstain. But all his strivings proved but vain; His love for liquor was most strong, Yet still he drank, but knew 'twas wrong. The temperance pledge he then took, Signed his name in the lodge book. Went on his way a sober lad, Which made his father feel most glad. And thought his son would ever be A pattern of sobriety. All did go well for a short time; I now must alter my sweet rhyme. And must relate what soon befell, For truth my friends I love to tell. A dinner party, large and grand Was given on fair Paddy's land; 221 222 POEMS. The youth did go to the dinner, And father, too, 1 e old sinner. Who did his son request to drink — Who lately was near hell's vile brink — Who told his son to take a glass, That pleasantly the time might pass. The son said, Father, O no, no. If I drink it will cause me woe; The pledge I've took, don't urge me, For whilst I'm sober I am free. The father said, O my son, mine, I bid you drink one glass of wine, For one glass is but a small thing; 'Twill pleasure, my son, to us bring. For none do love a sober lad; Come drink, my son, 'twill make us glad. The son did take that glass of wine, And like a serpent it did twine; And soon he took another glass, Nor would that do, but he must pass The bottle round, until at last By alcohol he was bound fast. The time, my friends, it soon did come When all that could had to go home. The youth was drunk he could not walk. But could with tongue profanely talk; He staggered out his horse to get — ^lia brains were not all gone as yet — So on horseback he thought to ride, No other plan he thought beside; And so he rode, but soon he fell, Which made his father cry and yell; POEMS. 223 With grief hia father's heai-t did choke, For his poor son his neck had broke. Ak\s, poor youth, thy death was soon, For thou didst die at early noon,- Thy father caused thee for to sin, By drinking liquor, wine or gin. The youth I pity, father, too, He now well kiiows what he did do By urging his son to drink wine; I'm glad that father is not mine, But pity him and wish that he May raise his eyes to Calvary; And if he does he's sure to find A Saviour gentle, good and kind, Who will receive him and forgive. And bid his troubled soul to live. Charlotte de Koven. My thoughts this morning I must strive to pen, As they do run on Charlotte de Koven; The tale T write shall be nought but the truth, For Charlotte 1 knew though then but a youth. Many years h, . e gone and have rolled away. When I was wont with poor Kenneth to stray, For Kenneth was Charlotte's only brother; As yet she had her father and mother. Of her mother I have little to say. Her father was a captain on half-pay; On the point of this time they all did dwell On the west side of the river Sorrel, As pretty a place as ever was seen, Where in my youthful days I've often been. 224 POEMS. The truth of the captain it must be told, "Was a very proud man, likewise bold ; He was born in Hanover far away, In his youth he joined the British army, And by his merit, as I do suppose, From a private to a captain arose ; And where I Icnew him I'm willing to tell. It was in my native place. Old Sorrel. To ^.ontinue my tale I still must rhyme: There dwelt at Sorrel at that very time A Colonel Armstrong, whose hair was all grey; He harl a son Edward, both on half-pay; Edward was an ensign, with income e^all, And Fcon I shall tell how he lost it all. Old Armstrong was brutish, yet very bold, And if still living wlsy he must be old; Charlotte was beautiful, a dark brunette, With aubarn hair and eyes as black as jet; She was rather tall, with fif ure most neat, l^ith pretty small hands and very small feet; She was fond of music and well could play On a piano a dear sweet lay; Accomplished was she as lady could be, But soon, alas, she met with misery. The tale I must tell aay be a long one. Chiefly about Charlotte and Armstrong's son. Edward was a young man, good lot)king, too^ The likes of him now we seldom can view; But then he was wild and liquor did drink, And a deceiver, too, so he did sink; He lost his Charlotte, likewise lost his pay. And where he is living I car :t say. POEMS. 225 I often saw Charlotte and Edward walk, And no doubt as they did they'd sweetl} talk; When lovers do meet they've plenty of chat, The truth I tell for I have practised that; No prettier sight on earth can we see Than lovers that love in sincerity. But this was not the case, as you may know, Although Oharlo' ' e's love for Edward did flow, Ai pure as maiden's love which is most strong; She gave her heart to Edward, it was wrong. Edward was a deceiver, he looked mild, And soon his true love Charlotte he buguiled; Quickly from Sorrel he soon did run away. The Government took from him his half-pay,. And gave it to Charlotte as a widow Of an officer that is dead, you know. If Charlotte is living I cannot say. But this I know she had a sweet baby, But hor life was drear as she often thought What misery Edward on her had brought On? morning my father to me did say, Capt. de Koven's account make to-day, And if you have time quickly to him go, And tell him the money I want, you know. So the bill I made 'out without delay, And weiit to present it the self same day, A day that I shall long remember, A sad day to me, 'twas in September. I took a canoe the river to cross, (If we have money we are at no loss, ) ;^26 POEMS. So I got across safe and did walk then Up the bank to dun Captain de Koven. When I got to the house I did feel sad, And when I saw the Captain I was mad; No bill did I present, no, not I; To see the Captain it world make one cry.. Come to me, young man, the Captain did say^ See my heart is breaking, I shan't long stay; That rascal Armstrong my daughter betrayed, I would rather that she in her grave had laid. if I had strength the villain to follow I'd shed his heart's blood before to-morrow; But I am old I cannot go, 1 have no strength to make his vile blood flow. Young man, says de Koven, do look at me, My daughter's shame is my soul's misery. I soon left the Captain, I could not stay,. Nor did I ever dun or ask for pay. In three days time from that the Captain died, Twas Charlotte's fault, 'twas nothing beside. To the funeral I went and felt sad, But instead of that I should have felt glad,. For better it is by far that we die, Than remain on this earth in misery. They buried the Captain on the east shore, While the soldier's muskets did loudly roar, 'TIS many years since the Captain did die, I trust his soul is with Jesus on high. POEMS. 227 On Kock of Ages. BY REQUEST OF ELDER Q. Bock of Ages thou art my hope, On thee alone I stand, For thou wilt ever keep me up Though others build on sand. Rock of Ages, blest corner stone, My hope, my God, mj all, For me my sins thou did atone. From thee I ne'er can fall. Rock of Ages, thou wilt me save, Whilst I remain below; I wish my body in the grave. That soul to thee may go. Rock of Ages, I long for thee, This earth I truly 'jate. My soul does long for liberty. Through the straight gate. Rock of Ages, grant me thy grace, That I may strive to be Willing to suffer sad disgrace, And that alone for thee. Rock of Ages, may I endure What thou dost think is best, For thou my poor soul didst secure, In thee I shall be blest Rock of Ages, dear Lamb divine, Thy blood for me did run, And I am thine and thou art mine, For we in Christ are one. ■■W^f y C^ V 228 POEMS. " ' til '1 111 Rock of Ages, my faith increase, Enlarge my present hope; In self, my God, may I decrease, Jesus, bear me up. Rock of Ages, blest Son of God, Thyself for me didst give. For me did flow thy precious blood, That I might ever live. Rock of Ages, blest God and Son, Thou art ever the same; may I love thee, Holy One, Thou wilt save me from shame. Rock of Ages, the Sinner's Friend^ One of the Holy Three, Thy love for me shall never end, For thou art Deity. Rock of Ages, blest topmost stone. And my soul's foundation. Thou wilt never leave me alone, Thou art my salvation. Rock of Ages, this sweet blest hour Do thou increase my love, For thou art God, thou hast all power; Soon may I go above. Rock of Ages, thy grace impart. That I may love thee more, And from all self may I depart, And thee alone adore. POEMS. 229 At Sister Sharp's, near tHe ToU Gate, Embro Bead. Lord, attune my lowly harp, That I may praises bring, Whilst I do dine with Sister Sharp, And think of thee, my King. IC^ My gratitude, Lord, increase. May I Jesus adore. And from self may I wholly cease, But love Christ more and more. I see thy goodness, Lord, to me. As I do roam about; All good I get, blest God, from thee. Thou dost love me no doubt As life, blest Lord, thou dost prolong, May I increase in grace, Until I sing Moses' sweet song. And see thee face to face. I soon must leave and go away. To some it may seem hard, But trust we'll meet in endless day; O Lord, do thou us guard. Farewell, dear sister, fare you well, IJDtil we meet above. In presence of Immanuel, Jesus the God of love. ^^H ^ Ark Cliurcli, S. DorclieBter. I went to meeting and I saw An old acquaintance, one Kershaw; He is small in stature, but then He can talk as loud as big men. iaa mi til* ssa". if 'id mi 230 POEMS. His learning, too, he'd let us know, And quotes for us Cicero, As well as old Diogenes, And further, too, old Socrates. Perhaps he thought he'd let us know A little, too, about Cato, Who took his own life to find out Immortality without doubt. But when with heathens he had done, And spoke of God's most holy Son, I then began to get some feed Spiritual, for that I need. He proved the Father and the Son As Deity and only one, Which is most true, for we do find The three in unity combined. I Soon Bust Qo. I soon must go, I cannot stay, My mind is not easy, For I do long to be away, Travelling does please me. Long at a place I can't abide, My mind is not at rest. And further, too, I cannot ride, Walking does suit me best. A roving life I do admire. It keeps my thoughts away From many an evil desire That on the idle prey. POEMS. 231 A Slght-Galt. From where I sit I saw a sight, For in the centre of the road A man did walk and felt most bright. Than him I'd rather bo a tcad. As he did walk in the town of Gait, He lectured, but did never halt; I could not hear what he did say, He talked and walked, kept on his way. I do not know, nor have I seen, Such a sad case where I have been,- His brain no doubt is out of tune. Although the time is not yet noon. 'Tis whiskey makes the fellow mad, Alas, to see him 'tis most sad; Of learning no doubt he's got some. Perhaps some day had a good home. But liquor is a cursed thing. To madness it will poor man bring. 'Tis a pity, and yet we find. Liquor binds many a bright mind. And he this day who made some laugh Was not, as now, a poor green calf. And is It True. And is it true, and must it be, That man is prone to evil? If others can't, I plainly see That I'm vexed by the devil. An(t is it true that Satan can Inject in man what's evil? if^ s. 232 POEMS. PI I know he can, it is his plan, For Satan is the devil. And is it true that I must fight The powers of wretched hell. If I do wish to dwell in light With Jesus ImmanuelT And is it true that I may be A victor over Satan? O yes, 'tis true, if I do see By faith the blessed God man. And is it true that I shall rest, When with this earth I have done, And lean like John on Jesus* breast, The holy and the just one? Loo ard Jane, Yarmouth. Loo has a lass, her name is Jane, Her beauty gives poor Loo some pain; His love for Jane is most sincere, Jane loves him not I much do fear. Loo is a youth both brave and bold, His age eighteen, as I am told, Jane's age I'm sure I cannot tell. But this I know, Loo loves her well. Perhaps Jane's love for Loo is true, But keeps it hid from public? view; She has some sense, and likes to hide Her love until she is a bride. I think Jane wise and very kind, Bhe has a noble, gentle mind; She is neat and very pretty, POEMS. And further, too, she is most witty. And as for Loo he is most smart, And loves his Jane with all his heart I wish the two united were, For they would make a happy pair; Perhaps the time will not be long Before they both will sing this song. 23a Sabbatb Bell. How solemn sounds the Sabbath Bell,. Itwarnsus what todo; To seek for heaven, to flee from hell, To trust in Christ the Jew, The Sabbath bell puts me in mind, When I was but a boy. That I religion had to find. Or never dwell on high. The Sabbath bell would catch my ear, Then quick to church I'd go. And but one sermon mostly hear. The pastor was so slow. The first bell has already rung, The second soon will sound. Then loudly praises will be sung. And love to Christ abound. And when the second bell does ring I'll go the class to meet. To worship Christ, my God and King, And sit at Jesus' feet !!fif' 234 POEMS. i4! To A. F., Sparta. The kiss I got from thee, sweet maid, When at thy home one night I stayed, Does cheer me yet, for 1 do know The kiss was pure as virgin snow. There is on earth no purer bliss Than when two hearts do meet and kiss; Hearts not of lust, but of pure love, Tis like the joys of those above. 'Tis true I'm old, but still I feel For such like thee an holy zeal— A wish, dear girl, that 1 and thee Shall meet, no more to parted be. Amarilla, you need not fear, . If in Jesus you shall appear, And I, a poor poetic boy. Shall meet thee, dear, in perfect joy. The most of folks on earth we find To purity they are most blind. Pure love they change and make it lust; This earth with such is greatly cursed. Amarilla, remember me, And should it be our destiny No more on earth again to meet. May we be kept at Jesus' feet. Then what joy we shall possess, Bought for us by Christ's righteousness- The joy to meet in heaven above, Together dwell in perfect love. POEMS. Dear maid, my soul does love thee well, Far better than my tongue can tell, And I do pray with all my heart, Like Mary, you may have that part That none can take from you away— May it be yours, Amarilla; Then we shall meet our God to praise, In holy songs of sweetest lays. Farewell, dear maid, though I am old, My love for you will ne'er grow cold- But 1 long with thee to be ' In one blest, sweet eternity. 235 INDEX. PAGE. A Fable 9 AtA. McP 18 Angelina Thompson 22 An English Lady 29 Alone in Church .. 64 Acrostic ®^ AddieNelles 91 A Fisher of Men 96 Alphabetical Acrostic 130 AVirtuousMan 160 Afternoon, L. E 203 Acrostic 197 A Christian 202 Almost a Christian 199 At Sister Sharpe's... 229 ArkChnrch ^ 230 ASight— Gait 231 And is it True? 232 Barton 34 By Nature 39 B.C 92 Bramley's Brewery 146 Born of God 156 Beech Tree, L. E 217 Cornelia's Cake 154 Charlotte de Koven 223 Delaware - 36 Drunkard 62 DeathofO, McK 54 Did Jesus Die? 79 POEMS. 237 Divorce, Port Dover Schoolmistress 106 Dinner, Port Burwell 118 Diffidence US Eiiza 61 Evening 82 B. T 86 Eliza Jane B., Malahide 136 Estelle Manning 179 Farewell to SarnJa 25 FannyR 31 Farewell to Wyoming „ 103 Fear Not 116 Friendsl p 175 God's Sympathy ' li Goderich 87 Gait GraTe Yard 89 GaltStation 90 George Serze's Death 109 Gala Day, Paris 192 Happiness 24 Horseback 108 HowAptWeAre 139 H«aven is Benutiful 169 I Have no Home 16 I Long to See * 23 1 Soon Shall Die 40 Pm Waiting 42 I'm on my Way 43 I Love Them that Love Me 67 I Peel Lonely 69 Pve Thrown Away 80 IHeardaTale 114 I Long to Die 145 IWish 149 INeed 160 I Long for Home 151 Irish Town, McGillivray 163 238 POEMS. PAGE. I Long to See Jacob 177 lam Lonely 214 ISoonMust Go 231 «/0&«\^M .«•• «..•• •••• .••« »••• «•••»•« .«•. ••.• «»•» t>' Jones iluog 4 Jacob's 13th Birthday 37 J. Y 85 Jesus Alone 10' Jacob's 12th Birthday 112 J. S., Malahide 116 J. S., Malahide 126- Jacob's Trip to Port Stanley 166^ John Kant ,21^ Luther's Prayer 32: Love Feast 38 Life is the Time 81 Lake Huron 136 Lord's Day 148 Lower Town, Paris 190 Lecture on Temperance 208 L.E.,S.M 205 Loo and ' x armouth 233 Most] y 15 My FaWv-r's Death .^ 63 Mrs. Mary Coats 70 MarillaCook 74 My Home Above 85 Melrose Grave Yard 88 M. A. andC. Sherk 124 Mary C, South Dorchester 133 Memento Mori 138 Matilda Allen, Malahide 144 My Wish to S 171 My Home 172 Maria 178 Mary Hnrley 216 New Birth 128 POEMS. 230 PAGE. Near Ingersoll 129 Notico, PortBurwell 163 On Poetry 1 106 On the Trinity 121 Fuiiei' 4* Preaching in Sarnia 168 Pollock-/. 193 Riches Above 19 Rock of Ages 227 Sin 66 Salvation 60 Silas Cook 72 Sabbath Day 76 Sunday Night 98 Some Men 99 Stratford Fair 119 Summer Nights 127 Some Folks 131 Sarah B., Malahide 134 Springfield 186 Sixth Chapt -Matthew 190- Simcoe 201 St. Williams 200 Sabbath 207 Samuel Harris, Preacher 194 Springfield... 215 Sister Esther : 198 The Little Girl 11 The Laughing Plant 12 The Gospel 17 The Rich Poor Man 41 TheMostofMen ,. 51 TheChristiau Poet 68. The Poor Man 7^ Thedontrast 93 The Ti*avellftr 101 The Crazy Woman, Springfield 110 240 POEMS. PAQS ToE. M., PortBui'well 111 The Miilionaire .' 126 The Bard Ul To Mrs. V 137 To Mr. and Mrs. V 137 TheSonofMary 140 The Sabbath Bell 233 ^> A.F., Sparta 234 To Lucy, J. T 162 ToW. e. Si 168 The True Catholic '. 162 The Londoner 176 The Barber's Ghost 186 True Peace 191 The Indian „., 211 The Youth 221 Various Beliefs. 166 Whiskey 20 WilenaF 56 Wyoming Church 78 Woodstock 92