Something worth having

To have the sure esteemOf those whose worth we know,The heart will oft redeemFrom many a doubtful throe;The anxious soul declaresSome good must be in us,Or, by such souls as theirsWe were not valued thus.

When brimming cups go round,When friendly faces meet,Where jest and smile abound,Oh, if we there may meetSuch long-tried friend of yearsTo share with us the wine—’Tis nectar then—and cheersWith influence divine!

Or, if oppress’d with careOr sickness, low we lie,What med’cine can compareWith friendship’s love-lit eye?One fond plain English wordMore cheers our suffering manThan all the pomp absurdOf doctor’s Latin can.

Oh, bliss how bright, how rare,Where friend like this appears,With smiles our joy to share,Or share our grief with tears:To have this, is to winFrom out our earthly strifeThe brightest jewel inThat crown of thorns—called life!