24
Pleas'd with his guests, the good man learn'd to glow
And quite forgot their vices in their wo:
Careless their merits or their faults to scan,
His pity gave, ere charity began.
Thus to relieve the wretched, was his pride;
And ev'n his failings lean'd to virtue's side:
But, in his duty, prompt at ev'ry call,
He watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt for all.
And, as a bird each fond endearment tries
To tempt its new-fledg'd offspring to the skies,
He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay,
Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way.
Beside the bed, where parting life was laid,
And sorrow, guilt, and pain, by turns dismay'd;
The reverend champion stood. At his control,
Despair and anguish fled the struggling soul:
Comfort came down the trembling wretch to raise;
And his last falt'ring accents whispered praise.
At church, with meek and unaffected grace,
His looks adorn'd the venerable place;
Truth from his lips prevail'd with double sway,
And fools, who came to scoff, remain'd to pray.
The service past, around the pious man,
With ready zeal, each honest rustic ran:
Ev'n children follow'd with endearing wile,
And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile.
His ready smile a parent's warmth express'd;
Their welfare pleas'd him, and their cares distres'd
To them his heart, his love, his griefs, were giv'n;
But all his serious thoughts had rest in heav'n:-
As some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form,
Swells from the vale, and mid-way leaves the storm,
Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread.
Eternal sunshine settles on its head.
FINIS
