My Books by Francis Bennoch
I love my books as drinkers love their wine;
The more I drink, the more they seem divine;
With joy elate my soul in love runs o’er,
And each fresh draught is sweeter than before.
Books bring me friends where’er on earth I be, –
Solace of solitude, – bonds of society!

I love my books! they are companions dear,
Sterling in worth, in friendship most sincere;
Here talk I with the wise in ages gone,
And with the nobly gifted of our own.
If love, joy, laughter, sorrow please my mind,
Love, joy, grief, laughter in my books I find.

Old English Song:
OH for a booke and a shadie nook
Either in-doors or out ;
With the grene leaves whisp’ring overhead,
Or the streete cryes all about,
Where I may reade all at my ease,
Both of the new and olde ;
For a jollie goode booke whereon to looke,
Is better to me than golde.