UPS AND DOWNS.
ONE day, as I have heard it said,
It chanced a rag and bit of lead
Lay in the kennel snug together
In very wet and muddy weather.
The rag was soiled and old and torn;
The bit of lead was bruised and worn,
Two waifs, whose worth, at full account,
Was of such very small amount
They well together might remain
To hide the pelting of the rain.
Yet low as was their present state,
They both had known a better fate.
The rag had once been whole and white,
In every way had pleased the sight;
And, in its time, had helped adorn
A bride upon her wedding-morn;
Lent to her figure and her face
An added though unneeded grace,
Nor thought such parting and distress
Could e'er befall a wedding-dress.
The piece of lead could not forget
Its fortunes had been nobler yet;
For, molded well for use of one
Who was his country's faithful son,
It had though that was long ago
Been sped against his country's foe,
And, guided by unerring hand,
Had stretched him lifeless on the sand.
There came a man with hook and bag,
And took away the lead and rag;
And both were to a shop consigned,
With many others of their kind.
When winter passed, and summer came,
The former rag had changed its name
To paper, and it might avow
It ne'er had been so white as now.
Meanwhile, the lead, so long despised.
Was altered so 'twas highly prized;
For, melted, purified, and cast,
It was a printer's type at last.
They now, in this, their new condition,
Were put into their old position;
Drawn closer than before, to kiss,
And find their apotheosis.
What greater immortality
Than helping Genius not to die?
Scribner's Magazine