A
FATHER's
ADVICE
TO
HIS
SON
.
BY
JOHN
GILBERT
COOPER
,
ESQ
.
DEEP
in
a
grove
by
cypress
shaded
,
Where
mid
day
sun
had
seldom
shone
,
Or
noise
the
solemn
scene
invaded
,
Save
some
afflicted
Muse's
moan
;
A
Swain
towards
full
ag'd
manhood
wending
,
Sat
sorrowing
at
the
close
of
day
,
At
whose
fond
side
a
Boy
attending
,
Lisp'd
half
his
father's
cares
away
.
The
father's
eyes
no
object
wrested
,
But
on
the
smiling
prattler
hung
,
Till
,
what
his
throbbing
heart
suggested
,
These
accents
trembled
from
his
tongue
.
"
My
youth's
first
hopes
,
my
manhood's
treasure
,
"
My
prattling
innocent
,
attend
,
"
Nor
fear
rebuke
,
or
sour
displeasure
,
"
A
father's
loveliest
name
is
Friend
.
"
Some
truths
,
from
long
experience
flowing
,
"
Worth
more
than
royal
grants
receive
,
"
For
truths
are
wealth
of
heaven's
bestowing
,
"
Which
kings
have
seldom
power
to
give
.
"
Since
from
an
ancient
race
descended
"
You
boast
an
unattainted
blood
,
"
By
yours
be
their
fair
fame
attended
,
"
And
claim
by
birthright
to
be
good
.
"
In
love
for
every
fellow-creature
,
"
Superior
rise
above
the
crowd
;
"
What
most
ennobles
human
nature
"
Was
ne'er
the
portion
of
the
croud
.
"
Be
thine
the
generous
heart
that
borrows
"
From
others
joys
a
friendly
glow
,
"
And
for
each
hapless
neighbour's
sorrows
,
"
Throbs
with
a
sympathetic
woe
.
"
This
is
the
temper
most
endearing
;
"
Tho'
wide
proud
Pomp
her
banners
spreads
,
"
An
heavenlier
power
good-nature
bearing
,
"
Each
heart
in
willing
thraldom
leads
.
"
Taste
not
from
Fame's
uncertain
fountain
,
"
The
peace-destroying
streams
that
flow
;
"
Nor
from
Ambition's
dangerous
mountain
,
"
Look
down
upon
the
world
below
.
"
The
princely
pine
on
hills
exalted
,
"
Whose
lofty
branches
cleave
the
sky
,
"
By
winds
long
brav'd
,
at
last
assaulted
,
"
Is
headlong
whirl'd
in
dust
to
lie
;
"
Whilst
the
mild
rose
more
safely
growing
"
Low
in
its
unaspiring
vale
,
"
Amidst
retirement's
shelter
blowing
,
"
Exchanges
sweets
with
every
gale
.
"
Wish
not
for
Beauty's
darling
features
,
"
Moulded
by
Nature's
fondling
power
;
"
For
fairest
forms
'mong
human
creatures
,
"
Shine
but
the
pageants
of
an
hour
.
"
I
saw
,
the
pride
of
all
the
meadow
,
"
At
noon
,
a
gay
Narcissus
blow
"
Upon
a
river's
bank
,
whose
shadow
"
Bloom'd
in
the
silver
waves
below
.
"
By
noon-tide's
heat
its
youth
was
wasted
,
"
The
waters
as
they
pass'd
,
complain'd
;
"
At
eve
its
glories
all
were
blasted
,
"
And
not
one
former
tint
remain'd
.
"
Nor
let
vain
Wit's
deceitful
glory
"
Lead
you
from
Wisdom's
path
astray
:
"
What
Genius
lives
renown'd
in
story
,
"
To
happiness
who
found
the
way
?
"
In
yonder
mead
behold
that
vapor
,
"
Whose
vivid
beams
illusive
play
,
"
Far
off
it
seems
a
friendly
taper
,
"
To
guide
the
traveller
on
his
way
;
"
But
should
some
hapless
wretch
pursuing
,
"
Tread
where
the
treacherous
meteors
glow
,
"
He'd
find
,
too
late
his
rashness
rueing
,
"
That
fatal
quicksands
lurk
below
.
"
In
life
such
bubbles
nought
admiring
,
"
Gilt
with
false
light
,
and
fill'd
with
air
,
"
Do
you
,
from
pageant
crowds
retiring
,
"
To
peace
in
Virtue's
cot
repair
.
"
There
seek
the
never-wasted
treasure
,
"
Which
mutual
love
and
friendship
give
,
"
Domestic
comfort
,
spotless
pleasure
,
"
And
bless'd
and
blessing
you
will
live
.
"
If
Heaven
with
children
crowns
your
dwelling
,
"
As
mine
its
bounty
does
with
you
,
"
In
fondness
fatherly
excelling
"
The
example
you
have
felt
pursue
.
"
He
paus'd
—
for
tenderly
caressing
The
darling
of
his
wounded
heart
,
Looks
had
means
only
of
expressing
Thoughts
language
never
could
impart
.
Now
Night
her
mournful
mantle
spreading
,
Had
rob'd
with
black
the
horizon
round
,
And
dank
dews
from
her
tresses
shedding
,
With
genial
moisture
bath'd
the
ground
:
When
back
to
city
follies
flying
,
'Midst
Custom's
slaves
he
liv'd
resign'd
,
His
face
array'd
in
smiles
,
denying
The
true
complexion
of
his
mind
;
For
seriously
around
surveying
Each
character
in
youth
and
age
,
Of
fools
betray'd
and
knaves
betraying
,
That
play'd
upon
this
human
stage
,
(
Peaceful
himself
and
undesigning
)
He
loath'd
the
scenes
of
guile
and
strife
,
And
felt
each
secret
wish
inclining
To
leave
this
fretful
farce
of
life
.
Yet
to
whate'er
above
was
fated
,
Obediently
he
bow'd
his
soul
;
For
,
what
all-bounteous
Heaven
created
,
He
thought
Heaven
only
should
controul
.