Classic Poem

Come help me sing the morning song,
While woods are sweetly blooming,
And bears the joyful strain along,
That happier days are coming.

Let other people's goods alone,
But raise yourself a plenty;
To delve and cultivate your own,
And beg not one in twenty.

How dare you touch another's spoil,
When you have strength to labor?
Oh, then be glad to dig and toil,
And let alone your neighbor.

Your wife may well be busy too,
Averting all starvation;
Keep clean herself, her house and you,
And thus support her station.

Close labor works you up to wealth,
It makes your wife to love you;
If sick it oft restores to health,
Tho' idlers may reprove you.

Thus did a man his son advise,
Let not your friends deceive you,
If in the world you wish to rise,
Take care of what I give you.

Another lesson you would give,
Hold in your feet from rambling;
By straggling you can never live,
By sporting nor by gambling.

Take not the bottle for your friend,
For this will sure deceive you,
And this you may in truth depend,
Both health and wealth will leave you.

It robs you of your rest at night,
Take money, fame and pleasure,
Which never can the loss requite,
But drains the fount of pleasure.