W. W. Story

“ That's all the vogue now. Living, is it not?
Live, palpitating flesh! To balance it
There's a Madonna pale and pure enough,
Painted by — what's his name? Enough of these —
You'll come and look at them another time.
Now for our breakfast, lunch, or what you will.
You need not wait, John! Come, sit down, my friend!
Well, yes! I have succeeded as you say;
You find me rich — ay, and I mean to be
Much richer. 'tis the first step costs. To gain
The first ten thousand costs pains, toil, care, skill,
Great self-denial ”

“ You have not prospered; you are poor, I see, —
Still poor hungry perhaps.
Stop! let me ring, —
A glass of good old wine will do you good.
Wine? You shall breakfast with me — we will talk
Over old times. Perhaps 'tis not too late
Even now to put you on the prosperous road. ”

“ Ha, my old friend! so, you've come back again!
Sit down, sit down! — 'tis years since we have met.
How goes the world with you? — You shake your head
Not well? Indeed! Im sorry. So your plan
Did not succeed. ”

“ To hide the well.worn coat with its white seams.
It pays, you see — it pays, say what we will.
Success, my friend, covers all kinds of sins.
Never be found out, thats my rule of life.
Truth, honor, honesty, are excellent
To talk about, but as strict rules of life
Are, let us say, most serious obstacles.
You've found them such, I think— so have not I.
Little by little small things grow to great.
One must be patient — never force ones card,
But wait the time to play. Riches are power,
And having won them, if we bide our time,
We can buy anything we will. ”