Poems (Sherwin)/A teacher's address to her pupils

by Elizabeth Sherwin

A TEACHER'S ADDRESS TO HER PUPILS.

Dear children,—objects of my daily care;
My nightly dreams, and my continual prayer,—
A moment from your daily studies lend,
And hear the counsel of an ardent friend.

  First "know yourselves," all your defects discern,
Reject not honest praise, but flattery spurn.
In all things strictly keep God's holy law,
And daily precepts from the scriptures draw.
Strain every nerve for knowledge, day by day,
But on religion the foundation lay.
Remember,—talents to your care were given,
That, by their culture, you may merit heaven.
Remember, also, that no bliss can last;
That joy and sorrow both will soon be past.
And keep them still within that narrow bound
Where true delights are only to be found.
Let no vain terrors scare you from your trust;
Be nobly firm;—be gentle;—but be just.
Scorn all such weakness as our sex degrades,
Nor seek a joy that others right invades.
Be meek;—be humble;—yet too proud to bend
To aught that's mean;—and be to truth a friend.
Let purest virtue all your actions guard,
And be for all the ills of prepared.
Enjoy its blessings with a grateful heart,
And, what you can, to others wants impart:
O'er all their failings kindly draw a veil;
Hide all their faults, and for their sorrows feel.
Severity should ne'er your hearts invade,
Nor passion's angry storms your sex degrade.
Yet still be firm;—still on yourselves depend,
And, next to God, be each your own best friend.
Be gentle—mild;—be steady, true, and just,—
Nor too confiding, nor afraid to trust.
Your parents honour, love, attend, obey;
Regard their counsel, and their care repay.
Respect yourselves, God's holy laws fulfil,—
So shall you live blest and contented still;
And ever find, till life shall have an end,
In God a father, and in man a friend.