INGRATITUDE.
If we should help a friend in need
We would not have him kneel
In humble, abject gratitude;
And yet—we’d have him feel
Some little kindness in his heart,
Sometimes to it allude.
“For sharper than a serpent’s tooth”
Is base ingratitude.
We try to keep the rule laid down,
“Let not your right hand know”
What e’er your left may give, or do,
Though friend may change to foe.
Though friends ignore what we have done,
And often cause us pain,
We still will help to lift the loads,
And burdens on them lain.
“JUDGE NOT.”
Judge not of others’ lives by yours,
Unless your own is pure.
You know not what the others bear
Or what they may endure.
Temptations may have been too strong,
And they, alas! too weak
To cope with all the sins in life,
And purity aye seek.
Heredity is oft the cause;
And e’en the strongest mind
May find it hard to overcome;
For it, to sin may bind.
And yet there is a power within
To overcome all ill.
By cultivating this high power
All thought of sin we kill.
Yet “do not judge lest you be judged.”
Look deep in your own heart,
And you may find some secret sin
That of your life is part.
If you are sinless, then you may
The first stone throw at them;
If it recoils and falls on you,
Yourself you must condemn.
There are so many pitfalls deep
At every turn of road;
And all life’s paths so devious,
So heavy is life’s load
That man must carry up life’s hill,
Too oft he falls by way;
But he has strength to bear the load
If he God’s laws obey.
OUR VIRTUES ARE CARVED UPON OUR TOMBSTONES.
In attic bare and dreary,
With fingers blue with cold,
A man sat writing, writing,
For pittance small of gold.
His limbs were cramped, and trembling,
The light was low and dim.
For hours he had been writing,
And Hunger sat by him;
Sat even at his elbow
With taunting words of fame,
With promises alluring
That he would make a name.—
The morning light was breaking,
Still empty was his cot.
He seemed to be still writing.—
He had the world forgot.
In grave-yard he is lying,
“God’s acre” is the name.
Cold criticism killed him.
He fought too hard for fame.