"'Do not be troubled because you have not great virtues,
God made a million spears of grass where He made one tree;
The earth is fringed and carpeted not with forests but with grasses,
Only have enough of little virtues and common fidelities,
And you need not mourn because you are neither a hero nor a saint.'
"This is a favorite little poem of mine, Aunt Sarah. I'll just write it on this blank page in your book."
There's a little splash of sunshine and a little spot of shade,
always somewhere near,
The wise bask in the sunshine, but the foolish choose the shade.
The wise are gay and happy, on the foolish, sorrow's laid,
And the fault's their own, I fear.
For the little splash of sunshine and the little spot of shade
Are here for joint consumption, for comparison are made;
We're all meant to be happy, not too foolish or too staid.
And the right dose to be taken is some sunshine mixed with shade.
"Aunt Sarah, I see there is still space on this page to write another poem, a favorite of mine. It is called, 'Be Strong,' by Maltbie Davenport."
Be Strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard word to do, and loads to lift,
Shun not the struggle; face it, 'tis God's gift.
Be Strong!
Say not the days are evil—who's to blame?
And fold the hands and acquiesce—Oh, shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name.
Be Strong!
It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long;
Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song,
LIFE'S COMMON THINGS.
How lovely are life's common things.
When health flows in the veins;
The golden sunshine of the days
When Phoebus holds the reins;