Come forth, thou timid, hampered one,
And doff that outward, odd disguise,
That cumbers thee, if thou wouldst run,
Or fight the fight, to win the prize.
Come! from the bushel take thy light,
And give its radiance room to play;
Bind on thy shoes and armor tight,
And up, and to the field away!
[TREES FOR THE PILGRIM’S WREATH.]
Knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed.
Romans v. 3-5.
Tribulation, if by loss,
Or by thorny gain, the cross,
Thou art not a barren tree;
Seeds of Patience drop from thee.
Patience, bitter from thy root
Upward, till we reach the fruit,
Thou hast golden grains to sow,
Whence Experience full shall grow.
Broad Experience, rank and dark;
Thick in leaves, and rough in bark;
Through thy dubious shade we grope,
Till we grasp the bough of Hope.