Mary, never on these pages <br />Let there be a single line, <br />Be it beau's, or bard's, or sage's, <br />That shall aught unholy speak, <br />Or blot the paper's virgin cheek, <br />Or bring a blush o'er thine. <br /> <br /> <br />Let no hand,-or friend's or lover's,- <br />Ever, from wit's sparkling mine <br />Call, and leave between these covers, <br />Any gem, however bright, <br />That in jealous Virtue's sight <br />Shall be unfit for thine. <br /> <br /> <br />With the pearls from shallow waters, <br />Such as brainless flatterers twine <br />Round the brow of Folly's daughters, <br />Let the pedlers of those pearls <br />Grace the albums of their girls, <br />But never trick out thine. <br /> <br /> <br />Gems of truth and genius, rather, <br />That, from heights or depths divine, <br />Wisdom's sons and daughters gather,- <br />Gems of thought and holy feeling, <br />To thyself revealing,- <br />Shall fill this book of thine. <br /> <br /> <br />Flowers, by kindred spirits painted, <br />Taste shall here so intertwine, <br />That thy brother's spirit sainted,- <br />Could the finished volume lie <br />Open to his watchful eye,- <br />Would give it back to thine. <br /> <br /> <br />Mary, now thy cheek is blowing; <br />But its bloom wilt thou resign, <br />With the locks that now are flowing <br />Down the shoulders of thy youth; <br />But thy purity and truth <br />O keep for ever!-Thine,<br /><br />John Pierpont<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-the-album-of-miss-mary-g-m/
