Written for my Son in his Sickness, to one of his School fellows. Mary Barber Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T42622 519 p. 45 Barber, Mary, ca. 1690-1757. Poems on Several Occasions [poems only]. London Printed for C. Rivington, at the Bible and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1734 pp. 43-44. xlviii,283,[7]p.; 8⁰.

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Written for my Son in his Sickness , to one of his School fellows . I little thought that honest Dick Would slight me so , when I was sick . Is he a Friend , who only stays , Whilst Health and Pleasure gild our Days ; Flies , when Disease our Temper sours , Nor helps to pass the gloomy Hours ? Says my Mamma , who loves to make Reflections for her Childrens sake ; You see how mortal Friendship ends — My Child , secure celestial Friends : Make Heav'n your chief , your early Care ; You'll meet no Disappointment there . Build not on Length of Days , my Son ; Life's longest Race is quickly run . Lay hold on ev'ry coming Hour ; Do all the Good that's in your Pow'r : This will the sinking Heart sustain , When Cordials are dispens'd in vain ; Asswage the racking Pains , that seize On Limbs devoted to Disease ; The Place of fleeting Friends supply ; Pour balmy Slumbers on thine Eye ; Shield thee from Terrors of the Night , And wing thy Pray'rs to Realms of Light ; Thy ev'ry painful Care dismiss , And crown thee with eternal Bliss .