Read Mine First I mused on the beach of a beautiful isle,
where the children of learning were nurst,
when history gave me a book with a smile,
and wooingly said– read mine first!
She vanished before I the volume could ope,
In wonder I yet stood immersed;
When poetry dropping a fanciful trope,
Warbled out the same words– read mine first!
Then too were the letters of friendship and love
In prodigal numbers dispersed;
While clamorous voices around and above,
Re-echoed the phrase– read mine first!
My choice thus distracted , I had not the power
To quench curiosity’s thirst;
When a note in a rose bud was thrown from a tower,
With the seal of romance– read mine first!
So would I have done, when brighter than all,
Who before my vision had burst,
Came a seraph that flying, a Bible let fall,
And solemnly said– read mine first!
‘Tis the spirit of faith that addresses you now,
Whose precepts your parents rehearsed;
Whose works on earth’s pilgrim alone can bestow
Immortality’s hope– read mine first!
Then rushed to remembrance my nursery prayer,
When my young soul with heaven commerced;
The shade of my mother seemed hovering near,
Tears moistened the scriptures– read first.
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