Lines on the prizes drawn by the poor widows of Marblehead. From the "Columbian Centinel," April 24, 1790.
CASTALIAN FOUNT.
FOR THE CENTINEL.
LINES,
On the Prize of FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS being drawn by the poor Widows of Marblehead, written there.
WHENCE this increaſe of wealth? What bounteous hand
Grants more than ſanguine Hope could e'en demand?
Nor Chance nor Fortune ſhall the merit claim,
Thoſe fancied forms to Folly owe their name:
Such airy phantoms ill deſerve our lays;
A nobler object calls forth all our praiſe.
That Pow'r Supreme, who knows no great or ſmall,
But looks unchang'd with equal eye on all—
Who lifts the poor from their unnoted ſtate,
And humbles at his will th' aſpiring great—
Whoſe hand divine hath held us in its ſpan,
And fed, and cloth'd us ſince our lives began—
Hath, ſure, this last rich gift in kindneſs ſent,
To be improv'd, and not in riot ſpent;
A further proof of Heav'n's indulgent care,
In which our poorer neighbours ought to ſhare.
Accept, Great God, what thankful hearts can give,
For life and health, and all the means to live!
Much thou haſt added to our former ſtore;
O keep us ſtill as humble as before!
What thou haſt lent, direct us how to uſe,
And teach us when to give, and when refuſe.
To others freely let our bounty flow,
But not beyond Diſcretion's limits go.
Then let us live as uſeful as we can—
Grateful to God—beneficent to man—
Poſſeſs obſcure the bliſs of doing good,
Never ſo well explain'd as underſtood.
20,000!! 5,000!! 1000!!! Dollars.