When fame and fortune you attain,
And more than royal sway is sure,
’Twill be the majesty of brain,
A majesty that must endure,
Till thrones of kings and queens shall tumble,
And monuments of stone and brass,
Shall into shapeless ruin crumble,
And blow away like withered grass.
The world moves on with quickening pace,
And those who falter fall behind,
Then enter for the mental race,
Where mind is pitted against mind.
While we are cousins in the flesh,
In mind I think we’re nearer still,
Your genius leads you to the brush,
But mine inclines me to the quill.
And now, my cousin fair, adieu,
My promise I have somehow kept,
That I would write a line for you,
I hope you will these lines accept.
[Stanzas]
Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. T. Jefferson Scott, upon the occasion of the 24th anniversary of their wedding, March 2nd, 1882.
Kind gentlemen and ladies fair,
I have a word or two to say,
If you have got the time to spare,
Sit down, and hear my humble lay.
No tiresome homily, I bring,
To chill your joys and make you sad,
I’d rather hear you laugh or sing,
Than see you solemn, dull or mad,
A bow that’s always bent, they say,
Will lose its force and wonted spring,
And Jack’s all work and never play,
Makes him a dull and stupid thing.