But, in a word, he was the very youth 300 Who told me what I judged the very truth, That love like his and charms like mine agreed, For all description they must both exceed. Yet scarcely can I throw a smile on things So painful, but that Time his comfort brings, Or rather throws oblivion on the mind, For we are more forgetful than resign’d. We both were young, had heard of love and read, And could see nothing in the thing to dread, But like a simple pair our time employ’d 310 In pleasant views to be in time enjoy’d. When Frederick came, the kind old lady smiled To see the youth so taken with her child; A nice young man, who came with unsoil’d feet In her best room, and neither drank nor eat. Alas! he planted in a vacant breast The hopes and fears that robb’d it of its rest. All now appear’d so right, so fair, so just, We surely might the lovely prospect trust; Alas! poor Frederick and his charmer found 320 That they were standing on fallacious ground: All that the father of the youth could do Was done--and now he must himself pursue Success in life; and, honest truth to state, He was not fitted for a candidate. I, too, had nothing in this world below, Save what a Scotch physician could bestow, Who for a pittance took my mother’s hand; And, if disposed, what had they to command? But these were after fears, nor came t’ annoy 330 The tender children in their dreams of joy; Who talk’d of glebe and garden, tithe and rent, And how a fancied income should be spent; What friends, what social parties we should see, And live with what genteel economy; In fact, we gave our hearts as children give, And thought of living as our neighbours live. Now, when assured ourselves that all was well, ’Twas right our friends of these designs to tell; For this we parted.--Grandmamma, amazed, 340 Upon her child with fond compassion gazed; Then pious tears appear’d, but not a word In aid of weeping till she cried, “Good Lord!” She then, with hurried motion, sought the stairs, And, calling Biddy, bade her come to prayers. Yet the good lady early in her life Was call’d to vow the duties of a wife; She sought the altar by her friends’ advice, No free-will offering, but a sacrifice; But here a forward girl and eager boy 350 Dared talk of life, and turn their heads with joy! To my mamma I wrote in just the way I felt, and said what dreaming lasses say: How handsome Frederick was, by all confess’d, How well he look’d, how very well he dress’d; With learning much, that would for both provide, His mother’s darling, and his father’s pride; ‘And then he loves me more than mind can guess, Than heart conceive, or eloquence express.’