“You are old, Father William,” a young man did say,
“And life must be hast’ning away;
You are cheerful, and love to converse upon death:
Now tell me the reason, I pray.”
“I am cheerful, young man,” Father William replied,
“Let the cause thy attention engage:
In the days of my youth I remember’d my God,
And he hath not forgotten my age.”
CONTENTMENT.
No glory I covet, nor riches I want,
Ambition is nothing to me;
The one thing I beg of kind heaven to grant,
Is a mind independent and free.
With passion unruffled, untainted with pride,
By reason my life let me square;
The wants of my nature are cheaply supplied;
And the rest is but folly and care.
The blessing which Providence kindly has lent
I’ll justly and gratefully prize;
While sweet meditation and cheerful content
Shall make me both healthful and wise.