THE FIRE-SIDE. Dear Chloe, while the busy crowd, The vain, the wealthy, and the proud, In folly's maze advance; Tho' singularity and ide Be call'd our choice, we'll step aside, Nor join the giddy dance. From the gay world, we'll oft retire To our own family and fire, Where love our hours employs No noisy neighbour enters here, No intermeddling stranger near, To spoil our heart-felt joys. If solid happiness we prize, And they are fools who roam : The world has nothing to bestow; From our own selves our joys must flow, And that dear hut, our home. Of rest was Noah's dove bereft, When with impatient wing she left That safe retreat, the ark; Giving her vain excursion o'er, The disappointed bird once more Explor'd the sacred bark. Tho' fools spurn Hymen's gentle pow'rs, We, who improve his golden hours, By sweet experience know, That marriage, rightly understood, Gives to the tender and the good, A paradise below. Our babes shall richest comforts bring; If tutor'd right they'll prove a spring Lesbai spus, ton ei nutroq qo We'll form their minds, with studious care, Luon ow ob oti won 1983 38 To all that's manly, good, and fair, And train them for the skies. While they our wisest hours WOT engage, They'll joy our youth, support our age, And crown our hoary hairs; They'll grow in virtue ev'ry day, And thus our fondest loves repay, No borrow'd! joys they're all our own, Or by the world forgot: Monarchs! we envy not your state; We look with pity on the great, Our portion is not large indeed! For nature's calls are few: In this the art of living lies, To want no more than may suffice, And make that little do. We'll therefore relish with content, What e'er kind Providence has sent, Nor lose the present hour. To be resign'd, when ills betide, And pleas'd with favours giv'n: Whose fragrance smells to heav'n. We'll ask no long protracted treat, Grateful from table we'll arise, Nor grudge our sons, with envious eyes, The relics of our store. Thus, hand in hand, thro' life we'll go; With cautious steps we'll tread; H |