OLD BOOKS ARE BEST.
(To J. H. P.)
Old books are best! With what delight
Does "Faithorne fecit" greet our sight;
On frontispiece or title-page
Of that old time, when on the stage
"Sweet Nell" set "Rowley's" heart alight!
And you, O friend, to whom I write,
Must not deny, e'en though you might,
Through fear of modern pirates' rage,
Old books are best.
What though the print be not so bright,
The paper dark, the binding slight?
Our author, be he dull or sage,
Returning from that distant age
So lives again, we say of right:
Old books are best.
Beverly Chew.
A COWARD STILL.
A coward still: I've longed to fling
My arms about you, and to bring
My beating heart so near to thine,
That it might learn all thought of mine,
And closer to me cling.
But ere I dared do anything,
My trembling courage took to wing,
And left its bold design,
A coward still.