LINES
FOR
A
FRIEND'S
ALBUM
.
LINES
,
in
addition
to
the
treasure
Of
poesy
,
culled
for
the
pleasure
Of
beau
and
belle
and
gentle
dame
,
When
seated
round
the
evening
flame
,
What
time
the
social
hour
is
waning
,
And
tardy
coachman
guests
detaining
,
—
A
courteous
friend
hath
bid
me
write
Upon
her
Album's
pages
white
.
But
age
the
easy
grace
hath
lost
That
would
become
such
pages
most
,
While
of
a
quondam
rhymester's
skill
,
Scarce
aught
is
extant
but
the
will
;
And
sober
,
stinted
age
must
use
The
school-girl's
worn
and
stale
excuse
,
When
,
long
her
correspondent's
debtor
,
The
apology
becomes
the
letter
.
Apologies
for
those
who
need
'em
!
An
Album
is
a
thing
of
freedom
,
Receiving
all
with
right
good
will
That
fortune
sends
from
many
a
quill
,
And
then
displays
like
scaly
store
Which
fisher's
net
brings
to
the
shore
:
The
herring
sheathed
in
silvery
green
,
The
whiting
in
its
pearly
sheen
,
The
lithe
and
wavy
eel
that
glides
Athwart
the
mackerel's
tabbied
sides
;
John
Dory
with
his
dolphin
head
,
Where
amber
fins
like
horns
are
spread
,
And
flounder
,
sole
,
and
thornback
,
all
In
turn
on
some
observer
call
To
mark
each
varied
form
and
tint
;
And
from
this
simile
a
hint
Of
some
encouragement
I
take
,
And
humbly
this
my
offering
make
,
Which
if
received
with
favour
,
truly
Will
shew
that
I
have
reckoned
duly
On
what
might
homelier
things
commend
,
—
On
the
good
nature
of
a
friend
.