Miss Waldron's Birthday

How, my Marie, on this Day
Shall I my best good wishes pay?--
By asking of the Power above
All happiness for her I love.
The best of earthly Things would be
The Things that are denied to me:
Established Health and Spirits pure,
That in each worldly Change endure;
The Competence that not on Friends,
But on a certainty, depends;
The Love for one in whom thy Choice
But ratifies the general Voice;
One whose Esteem will grow and last,
When passion's warmer Day is past--
And you have past more years than he
Who prays for all this good to thee--
He who will then have ceas'd to share
The common Lot of Grief and Care;
Whose Love will then be such as thou
Wilt not refuse--nor need'st thou now;
Though not perhaps to that dear Mind
Alone devoted and confined;
For, while this fleshly veil endure,
The best are but the least impure.
Yet, tho' not free from earthly Stains,
From Daily Jealousies and pains,
Still, before all itself approves,
Thy Happiness it seeks and loves.
It prays for thee: may every Day,
That takes some part of Life away,
To that immortal part supply
Some Virtue that will never die!