SONNET

I WISH thee sound health and true sanity,

Ripe youth, a summer heart in age’ s snow,

Abiding joy in knowledge, wealth enow

That of the best thou ne’ er mayst hindered be;

Long life, love, marriage, children, faithful friends,

Purpose in all thy doing, stintless zeal,

Ambition, enthusiasm, the power to feel

Thy country dearer than thy private ends;

The threefold joy of Nature, books, and fun,

To be thy solace in adversity,

To keep thy father’ s name as clean as he,

And so transmit it stainless to thy son;

And lastly, crown of glory and of strife,

May honored death give thee Eternal Life.

Now count my wishes, and, the numbering done,

You’ ll find the enumeration — twenty-one.