Fear Not
Why will so many people now
Give way to frenzied fear?
Why will they act as though they thought
Swift Death were lurking near?
E'en if Disease now stalks abroad
And Death rides on the air,
'Tis not the time for craven acts,
But courage everywhere.
I wonder if they stop to think
How soon the war'd be won
If sons of theirs showed half the fear
That they of late have done?
And why fear death—eternal life?
I would not be the one
To strive to stay on this poor earth
With sacred tasks undone.
So, why not chirk up just a bit
And say good-bye to fear?
The world now needs much cheering up—
Pray help supply the cheer.
Eat What's Set Before You
As children ofttimes we were wont
To criticise and fuss
About the victuals that were cooked
And served by ma to us:
"Too salty" this, and "too sweet" that;
"You've had this twice since Sunday;
You always have what others like,
You might please me just one day."
And so it went till pa would say:—
'Twas meant you could not doubt it—
"Just eat what's set before you and
Say nothin' 'tall about it."
Now we are grown and, seems to me,
Too often we're inclined
To criticise the things Fate gives,
And think this life a grind.
Some things may not just suit our taste,
Some e'en be quite unpleasant;
Someone may get the bigger share
And failure seem e'er present;
But then, let's think of pa's advice:—
It's sound, pray never doubt it—
"Just eat what's set before you and
Say nothin' 'tall about it."
Life's road is rough—but what of that?
The man who'll growls forswear
Will top the hills ahead the crowd
All smiles, with breath to spare.
And so it goes this wide world o'er—
'Tis true for saint and sinner—
The man who silently will "dig"
Will always prove the winner.
That's why I say take pa's advice:—
Try once and you'll not doubt it—
"Just eat what's set before you and
Say nothin' 'tall about it."
