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.