He calls his wish, it comes; he sends it back,
And says he called another; that arrives,
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He calls his wish, it comes; he sends it back,
And says he called another; that arrives,
Meets the same welcome; yet he still calls on;
Till one calls him, who varies not his call,
But holds him fast, in chains of darkness bound,
Till Nature dies, and judgment sets him free;
A freedom far less welcome than this chain.

What folly can be ranker. Like our shadows,
Our wishes lengthen as our sun declines.

What folly can be ranker. Like our shadows,
Our wishes lengthen as our sun declines.

Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought.

Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought.

Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them.

Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them.

Man wants but little, nor that little long;
How soon must he resign his very dust,
Which read more

Man wants but little, nor that little long;
How soon must he resign his very dust,
Which frugal nature lent him for an hour!

Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can read more

Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained

Wishers and woulders be small householders.

Wishers and woulders be small householders.

With all thy sober charms possest,
Whose wishes never learnt to stray.

With all thy sober charms possest,
Whose wishes never learnt to stray.

He that humbleth himself wishes to be exalted

He that humbleth himself wishes to be exalted