James Russell Lowell

He who esteems the Virginia reel
A bait to draw saints from their spiritual weal,
And regards read more

He who esteems the Virginia reel
A bait to draw saints from their spiritual weal,
And regards the quadrille as a far greater knavery
Than crushing His African children with slavery,
Since all who take part in a waltz or cotillon
Are mounted for hell on the devil's own pillion,
Who, as every true orthodox Christian well knows,
Approaches the heart through the door of the toes.

A crime in which many are implicated goes unpunished.

A crime in which many are implicated goes unpunished.

With bated breath we offer wicked vows.

With bated breath we offer wicked vows.

Greatly begin! Though thou have time
But for a line, be that sublime--
Not failure, but low read more

Greatly begin! Though thou have time
But for a line, be that sublime--
Not failure, but low aim is crime.

Let us be of good cheer, however, remembering that the
misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come.

Let us be of good cheer, however, remembering that the
misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come.