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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