POETRY.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 187, 3 March 1893, Page 7

POETRY.

DON’T MABRY HIM TO REFORM HIM. Don’t marry a man to reform him ! To God and your ownself be true. Don’t link to his vices your virtue ; You’ll rue it, dear girl, if you do. No matter how fervent his pleadings, Be not by his promises led ; If he can’t be a man while a-v T ooing, He’ll never be one when he s wed. Don’t marry a man to reform him— To repent it, alas, when too late ; The mission of wives least successful Is the making of crooked limbs straight. There’s many a maiden has tried it, And proved it a failure at last; Better tread your life’s pathway alone, dear, Than to wed with a lover that’s “ fast.” Mankind’s much the same the world over ] The exceptions you’ll find are but few ; When the rule is defeat and disaster, The chances are great against you. Don’t trust your bright hopes for the future, The beautiful crown of your youth, To the keeping of him who holds lightly His fair name of honour and truth. To “ honour and love ” you must promise ; Don’t pledge whut you cannot fulfil. If he’ll have no respect for himself, dear, Most surely you, then, never will. ’Tis told us the frown of a woman Is strong as the blow of a man, And the world will be better when women Frown on error as hard as they can. Make virtue the price of your favour ; Place wrong-doing under a ban ; And let him who would win you and wed you. Prove himself in full measure a man !