How and from whence those gusts of grace will blow, It shuns,--but sinners in their way impedes, And sots and harlots visits in their deeds: Of faith and penance it supplies the place; Assures the vilest that they live by grace, And, without running, makes them win the race.' "Such was the doctrine our young prophet taught; And here conviction, there confusion wrought; When his thin cheek assumed a deadly hue, And all the rose to one small spot withdrew, They call'd it hectic; 'twas a fiery flush, More fix'd and deeper than the maiden blush; His paler lips the pearly teeth disclosed, And lab'ring lungs the length'ning speech opposed. No more his span-girth shanks and quiv'ring thighs Upheld a body of the smaller size; But down he sank upon his dying bed, And gloomy crotchets fill'd his wandering head. 'Spite of my faith, all-saving faith,' he cried, 'I fear of worldly works the wicked pride; Poor as I am, degraded, abject, blind, The good I've wrought still rankles in my mind; My alms-deeds all, and every deed I've done; My moral-rags defile me every one; It should not be:- what say'st thou! tell me, Ralph.' Quoth I, 'Your reverence, I believe, you're safe; Your faith's your prop, nor have you pass'd such time In life's good-works as swell them to a crime. If I of pardon for my sins were sure, About my goodness I would rest secure.' "Such was his end; and mine approaches fast; I've seen my best of preachers,--and my last," - He bow'd, and archly smiled at what he said, Civil but sly:- "And is old Dibble dead?" Yes; he is gone: and WE are going all; Like flowers we wither, and like leaves we fall; - Here, with an infant, joyful sponsors come, Then bear the new-made Christian to its home: A few short years and we behold him stand To ask a blessing, with his bride in hand: A few, still seeming shorter, and we hear His widow weeping at her husband's bier:- Thus, as the months succeed, shall infants take Their names; thus parents shall the child forsake; Thus brides again and bridegrooms blithe shall kneel, By love or law compell'd their vows to seal, Ere I again, or one like me, explore These simple Annals of the VILLAGE POOR. 1801. Footnotes: {1} Note: Indentation and Punctuation as original. {2} Allusions of this kind are to be found in the Fairy Queen. See the end of the First Book, and other places.