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."

To a Young Friend&nbsp;&nbsp;On Her Twenty-First Birthday

To a Young Friend On Her Twenty-First Birthday