Lines, Written in an Album

Earthly beauties soon decay,
Earthly pleasures fade away;
Then raise your fond desires to heaven,
And let not all to earth be giv’n.

Though touch’d by brilliant rainbow dyes,
Earth can contain no lasting prize.
But high above yon azure dome,
The ransom’d spirit finds a home.

O, then make wisdom’s ways your choice
In early youth. You will rejoice
To tread the straight and narrow way,
That upward leads to endless day.

Then when life’s little day is past,
Angels shall welcome thee at last
To yonder blissful, happy shore,
Where sin and sorrow come no more.