To a Young Friend  On Her Twenty-First Birthday

Crownmeacheerfulgoblet,whileIpray

Ablessingonthyyears,youngIsola;

Young,butnomoreachild.Howswifthaveflown

Tomethygirlishtimes,awomangrown

Beneathmyheedlesseyes!invainIrack

Myfancytobelievethealmanac,

ThatspeakstheeTwenty-One.Thoushouldsthavestill

remaindachild,andatthysovereignwill

Gamboldaboutourhouse,asintimespast.

UngratefulEmma,togrowupsofast,

Hasteningtoleavethyfriends!——forwhichintent,

FondRunagate,bethisthypunishment:

Aftersomethirtyyears,spentinsuchbliss

Asthisearthcanafford,wherestillwemiss

Somethingofjoyentire,maystthougrowold

Aswewhomthouhastleft!Thatwishwascold.

Ofarmoreagedandwrinkled,tillfolkssay,

Lookingupontheereverendindecay,

"ThisDame,forlengthofdays,andvirtuesrare,

WithherrespectedGrandsiremaypare."

GrandchildofthatrespectedIsola,

Thoushouldsthavehadabouttheeonthisday

KindlooksofParents,tocongratulate

TheirPridegrownuptowomansgraveestate.

Buttheyhavedied,andleftthee,toadvance

Thyfortuneshowthoumayst,andowetochance

Thefriendswhichnaturegrudged.Andthouwiltfind,

Ormakesuch,Emma,ifIamnotblind

Totheeandthydeservings.Thatlaststrain

Hadtoomuchsorrowinit.fillagain

Anothercheerfulgoblet,whileIsay

"Health,andtwicehealth,toourlostIsola."