QUALIFIED.

I love to see my friend succeed;

I love to praise him; yes, indeed!

And so, no doubt, do you.

But will you tell me why it is

The praise we parcel out as his

So often goes askew,

And ends by running in the rut

Of “if,” “except” or “but”?

“Boggs is a clever chap. His trade

Is doubling yearly, and he's made

A fortune all right, but ——”

“Sharp is elected. Well, I say!

He'll hit a high mark yet, some day,

If ——” ( here one eye is shut ).

“Such acting! Why, I laughed and wept!

Fobb's art is great — except.”

“Miss Hautton has such queenly grace.

And then her figure and her face!

She'd be a beauty if ——”

“And Mrs. Follol entertains

With so much taste and so much pains;

But ——” ( here a little sniff ).

“And Mrs. Caste has ever kept

The narrow path — except.”

I wish some man were great and good

That I might praise him all I could

And never add a “but.”

I would that some would value me

And never hint what I would be

“If” — but why cavil? Tut!

Eternal justice still is kept

And Heaven is good — except!