Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/138
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WED NOT FOR GOLD.
Of wealth and misery joined hand in hand.
See yonder lady fair!—wouldst understand
Why on her youthful brow that shadow rests?
Can it be true that aught of grief molests
One who is mistress of a home like this?_
What, cannot riches purchase earthly bliss?
Fool! list the moral that this scene imparts.—
She purchased wealth—with what?—two broken hearts.
Scarce one short year ago, a youthful pair
Plighted their troth, and swore through life to share,
Whether for weal or woe, their mutual lot;
But wealth came limping by, and she forgot
Her faith, his love; alas! poor girl, she sold
Her earthly happiness, her heaven, for gold.
Where is he now, that poor heart-broken boy?
When he beheld his all of earthly joy
Gone, gone for ever with the rich man's bride.
A tombstone mournful whispers, "that he died."
And is she happy now? No; every scene
She looks upon but tells what might have been.
Though decked in costly silks and satins rare,
Though priceless jewels glitter in her hair,
Though blessed with everything that wealth can buy,
Still is she happy? List the stifled sigh
Bursting unbidden from her aching breast.
It sometimes finds a voice, though oft repressed:
And in that sigh a truthful tale is told;
Go, write it on thy heart—Wed not for gold.
See yonder lady fair!—wouldst understand
Why on her youthful brow that shadow rests?
Can it be true that aught of grief molests
One who is mistress of a home like this?_
What, cannot riches purchase earthly bliss?
Fool! list the moral that this scene imparts.—
She purchased wealth—with what?—two broken hearts.
Scarce one short year ago, a youthful pair
Plighted their troth, and swore through life to share,
Whether for weal or woe, their mutual lot;
But wealth came limping by, and she forgot
Her faith, his love; alas! poor girl, she sold
Her earthly happiness, her heaven, for gold.
Where is he now, that poor heart-broken boy?
When he beheld his all of earthly joy
Gone, gone for ever with the rich man's bride.
A tombstone mournful whispers, "that he died."
And is she happy now? No; every scene
She looks upon but tells what might have been.
Though decked in costly silks and satins rare,
Though priceless jewels glitter in her hair,
Though blessed with everything that wealth can buy,
Still is she happy? List the stifled sigh
Bursting unbidden from her aching breast.
It sometimes finds a voice, though oft repressed:
And in that sigh a truthful tale is told;
Go, write it on thy heart—Wed not for gold.
Wouldst wed for gold? Seek yonder humble cot;
There wealth and misery are alike forgot;
Wide open stands the hospitable door,
And welcome he who enters, rich or poor.
Contentment smiles around with homely grace;
Here jaundiced Avarice, with saffron face,
Would e'en forget his hoards of yellow dust,
And give his millions could he share the crust
That honest labour renders ever sweet,
(Not always such the luxuries of the great)
See from his daily toil the cotter come;
Full well he knows the loved one waits him home;
Little cares he to share the rich man's part,
His mine of wealth is one true woman's heart;
Like those twin stars that mariners descry,
When looking eastward in the northern sky,
They seek the cynosure to trace their way
O'er pathless seas; but lest they wandering stray
There wealth and misery are alike forgot;
Wide open stands the hospitable door,
And welcome he who enters, rich or poor.
Contentment smiles around with homely grace;
Here jaundiced Avarice, with saffron face,
Would e'en forget his hoards of yellow dust,
And give his millions could he share the crust
That honest labour renders ever sweet,
(Not always such the luxuries of the great)
See from his daily toil the cotter come;
Full well he knows the loved one waits him home;
Little cares he to share the rich man's part,
His mine of wealth is one true woman's heart;
Like those twin stars that mariners descry,
When looking eastward in the northern sky,
They seek the cynosure to trace their way
O'er pathless seas; but lest they wandering stray