Poems of religion and society.: With notices of his life and character by John Davis and T. H. Benton.

TO A LADY.
TO A LADY
WHO PRESENTED HIM A PAIR OF KNIT GLOVES.
WHO shall say that public life
Is nothing but discordant strife'
And he whose heart is tuned to love,
Tender and gentle as the dove,
Must whet his talons, night and day,
For conflicts with the birds of prey?
This world is fashioned, Lady fair,
Of Joy and Sorrow, Ease and Care;
Of sudden changes, small and great;
Of upward and of downward fate:
And whoso bends his mood to trace
The annals of man's fallen race,
May sigh to find that nature's plan
Is ruthless war from man to man.
But nature, cruel to be kind,
Not to war only man consigned;
But gave him woman on the spot,
To mingle pleasure in his lot:
That if with man war cannot cease,
With woman reigns eternal peace.
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