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But bills will come at Christmas-tide, alas! alack-a-day!
The creditors may call again, "Papa's not in the way:
He's out of town, but certainly next week he'll call and pay;"
And then his name's in the "Gazette:" and this I mean to say
 Oft winds up many gentlefolks, all of the modern time.

 

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THE DEWDROP

The sky hath its star, the deep mine hath its gem,
 And the beautiful pearl lights the sea;
But the surface of earth holds a rival for them,
 And a lustre more brilliant for me.

I know of a drop where the diamond now shines;
 Now the blue of the sapphire it gives;
It trembles—it changes—the azure resigns;
 And the tint of the ruby now lives:

Anon the deep emerald dwells in its gleam,
 Till the breath of the south wind goes by;
When it quivers again, and the flash of its beam
 Pours the topaz flame swift on the eye.

Look, look, on yon grass-blade all freshly impearl'd,
 There are all of your jewels in one;
You'll find every wealth-purchased gem in the world,
 In the dewdrop that's kiss'd by the sun.

Apollo's own circlet is matchless, they say;
 Juno envies its sparkles and light;
For 'tis form'd of drops lit by its own burning ray;
 And Olympus shows nothing so bright.

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