Man’s soulless pride his test of worth has made,

But thine is based on that of God himself.

LINCOLN, THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE

By Edwin Markham

When the Norn-Mother saw the Whirlwind Hour,

Greatening and darkening as it hurried on,

She bent the strenuous Heavens and came down

To make a man to meet the mortal need.

She took the tried clay of the common road—