Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/111

 MY I.KSSON. 93

daughters, the eldest of whom, a son. year of liis age. The remaining three died in 1878, in the twenty- eighth reside in Madison, ^^'isconsin.

��J/F LESSOX.

��RV T.AII.'A GAKLAM) CAKff.

" Oh. cease your t'oolisli arts and wiles I "

Our wise male friends are ever preachinj^. " Be natural I There *s naught beguiles

Like simple ways of Nature's te iching I *" And so I've watched, with careful eye.

The motions of this praised old mother, Learning from her as jou and I

Oft' gather hints from one anotlier.

I saw her, in the eariy spring.

Array herself in robes of beautj-. And everj- blossom she could bring

To add its charms was placed on duty. While leafy plumes and f ringy sprays,

And dainty things that sway and flutter. Combined to form in many ways,

What artists paint and [loets utter.

In summer, though her cares increased.

She ne'er became a drudge or slattern. But. working at the harvest feast.

Still kept her robes a princely ijattern. And while she rounded fruit and grain.

And all good things for use intended. With them, o'er forest, field and plain.

Neatest <jf fancy-work she blenoed.

At last 1 saw her clothes look frayed:

A little faded — somewhat dustj^; And thought — will Madam be dismayed

To find she's getting old and rusty? Ah ! While 1 stood noting each change.

Saying no art could mend or hide them. O'er all her skirts — startling and strange —

( 'ame brilliant hues I Jladaui had dyed them I

��Hut dyed o'er goods are always frail ;

These soon wore out and fell in pieces. And Nature's face without a veil.

Showed brown and old and full of ci'eases And then I saw this artless dame

In robes of snowy white enshroud iier. And her old, withered face became

Fair as a babe's — 'neath pearly i^owder.

With icy gems that flash and gleam

She decked herself in rich profusion ; And thus she stands — cold as a dream —

The queen of art — a fair delusion ! This is my lesson, brother man :

Beauty 's a gift direct from heaven. Then keep its charms long as you can.

Making the most of all that "s given.

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