Young Jessica.

Young Jessica sat all the day,         With heart o'er idle love-thoughts pining;     Her needle bright beside her lay,         So active once!--now idly shining.     Ah, Jessy, 'tis in idle hearts         That love and mischief are most nimble;     The safest shield against the darts         Of Cupid is Minerva's thimble.     The child who with a magnet plays         Well knowing all its arts, so wily,     The tempter near a needle lays.         And laughing says, "We'll steal it slily."     The needle, having naught to do,         Is pleased to let the magnet wheedle;     Till closer, closer come the two,         And--off, at length, elopes the needle.     Now, had this needle turned its eye         To some gay reticule's construction,     It ne'er had strayed from duty's tie,         Nor felt the magnet's sly seduction.     Thus, girls, would you keep quiet hearts,         Your snowy fingers must be nimble;     The safest shield against the darts         Of Cupid is Minerva's thimble.