201

A SHORT SERMON

Children who read my lay,
This much I have to say:
Each day, and every day,
Do what is right!

Right things in great and small,
Then, though the sky should fall,
Sun, moon, and stars, and all,
You shall have light!

This further I would say:
Be you tempted as you may,
Each day, and every day,
Speak what is true!

True things in great and small,
Then, though the sky should fall,

Sun, moon, and stars, and all,
Heaven would show through!

Life's journey, through and through,
Speak what is just and true;

Do what is right to do,

Unto one and all;

When you work and when you play,

Each day, and every day,

Then peace shall gild your way,

Though the sky should fall.

ALICE CARY

202

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS

Turn, turn the hasty foot aside,
Nor crush the helpless worm;
The frame thy wayward looks deride
Required a God to form.

The common Lord of all that move,
From whence thy being flowed,
A portion of His boundless love
On that poor worm bestowed.

The sun, the moon, the stars, He made
To all His creatures free;

And spread o'er earth the grassy blade
For worms as well as thee.

Let them enjoy their little day,
Their lowly bliss receive;
Oh! do not lightly take away

The life thou canst not give.

THOMAS GISBORNE

203

LOVELINESS

Once I knew a little girl,

Very plain;

You might try her hair to curl
All in vain ;

On her cheek no tint of rose

Paled and blushed, or sought repose;
She was plain.

But the thoughts that through her brain
Came and went,

As a recompense for pain,
Angels sent;

So full many a beauteous thing,
In her young soul blossoming,
Gave content.

Every thought was full of grace,
Pure and true;

And in time the homely face
Lovelier grew;

With a heavenly radiance bright,
From the soul's reflected light
Shining through.

So I tell you, little child,

Plain or poor,

If your thoughts are undefiled,
You are sure

Of the loveliness of worth;

And this beauty, not of earth,

Will endure.

MARIA LACEY

204

THE CALL OF THE FLOWERS AND BIRDS

Lo! the lilies of the field,

How their leaves instruction yield!

Hark to Nature's lesson given
By the blessed birds of heaven!

Every bush and tufted tree
Warbles sweet philosophy:

"Children, fly from doubt and sorrow;
God provideth for the morrow!

Say, with richer crimson glows
The kingly mantle than the rose?
Say, have kings more wholesome fare
Than we poor citizens of air?

Barns nor hoarded grain have we,
Yet we carol merrily:

66

Children, fly from doubt and sorrow;

God provideth for the morrow!"

One there lives whose guardian eye
Guides our humble destiny;

One there lives who, Lord of all,
Keeps His creatures lest they fall.
Pass we blithely then the time,
Fearless of the snare and lime;

Free from doubt and faithless sorrow;
God provideth for the morrow.

REGINALD HEBER

205

DON'T FRET

Has a neighbor injured you?
Don't fret;

You will yet come off the best;
He's the most to answer for;

Never mind it, let it rest;
Don't fret.

Has a wicked lie been told?
Don't fret;

It will run itself to death

If you let it quite alone;

It will die for want of breath;
Don't fret.

Are your enemies at work?
Don't fret;

They can't injure you a whit.
If they find you heed them not,
They will soon be glad to quit;
Don't fret.

Is adversity your lot?

Don't fret;

Fortune's wheel keeps turning round;

Every spoke will reach the top,

Which, like you, is going down.

Don't fret.

ANONYMOUS