Never the ocean-wave falters[276] in flowing,

Never the little seed stops in its growing,

More and more richly the rose-hart keeps glowing,

Till from its nourishing stem it is riven.[277]

2. “Labor is worship!”—the robin is singing;

“Labor is worship!”—the wild bee is ringing;

Listen! that eloquent whisper upspringing,

Speaks to thy soul from out nature’s heart.

From the dark cloud flows the life-giving shower;

From the rough sod comes the soft-breathing flower;