To a Young Friend On Her Twenty-First Birthday
Ablessingonthyyears,youngIsola;
Young,butnomoreachild.Howswifthaveflown
Tomethygirlishtimes,awomangrown
Beneathmyheedlesseyes!invainIrack
Myfancytobelievethealmanac,
ThatspeakstheeTwenty-One.Thoushouldsthavestill
remaindachild,andatthysovereignwill
Gamboldaboutourhouse,asintimespast.
UngratefulEmma,togrowupsofast,
Hasteningtoleavethyfriends!——forwhichintent,
FondRunagate,bethisthypunishment:
Aftersomethirtyyears,spentinsuchbliss
Asthisearthcanafford,wherestillwemiss
Somethingofjoyentire,maystthougrowold
Aswewhomthouhastleft!Thatwishwascold.
Ofarmoreagedandwrinkled,tillfolkssay,
Lookingupontheereverendindecay,
"ThisDame,forlengthofdays,andvirtuesrare,
WithherrespectedGrandsiremaypare."
GrandchildofthatrespectedIsola,
Thoushouldsthavehadabouttheeonthisday
KindlooksofParents,tocongratulate
TheirPridegrownuptowomansgraveestate.
Buttheyhavedied,andleftthee,toadvance
Thyfortuneshowthoumayst,andowetochance
Thefriendswhichnaturegrudged.Andthouwiltfind,
Ormakesuch,Emma,ifIamnotblind
Totheeandthydeservings.Thatlaststrain
Hadtoomuchsorrowinit.fillagain
Anothercheerfulgoblet,whileIsay
"Health,andtwicehealth,toourlostIsola."