Let us smile along together, Be the weather What it may.
Through the waste and wealth of hours, Plucking flowers By the way.
Fragrance from the meadows blowing, Naught of heat or hatred knowing, Kindness seeking, kindness sowing, Not to-morrow, but to-day.
Let us sing along, beguiling Grief to smiling In the song.
With the promises of heaven Let us leaven The day long, Gilding all the duller seemings With the roselight of our dreamings, Splashing clouds with sunlight"s gleamings, Here and there and all along.
Let us live along, the sorrow Of to-morrow Never heed.
In the pages of the present What is pleasant Only read.
Bells but pealing, never knelling, Hearts with gladness ever swelling.
Tides of charity up welling In our every dream and deed.
Let us hope along together, Be the weather What it may, Where the sunlight glad is shining, Not repining By the way.
Seek to add our meed and measure To the old Earth"s joy and treasure, Quaff the crystal cup of pleasure, Not to-morrow, but to-day.
_James W. Foley_.
From "The Voices of Song."
OPPORTUNITY
Procrastination is not only the thief of time; it is also the grave of opportunity.
In an old city by the storied sh.o.r.es Where the bright summit of Olympus soars, A cryptic statue mounted towards the light-- Heel-winged, tip-toed, and poised for instant flight.
"O statue, tell your name," a traveler cried, And solemnly the marble lips replied: "Men call me Opportunity: I lift My winged feet from earth to show how swift My flight, how short my stay-- How Fate is ever waiting on the way."
"But why that tossing ringlet on your brow?"
"That men may seize me any moment: _Now_, NOW is my other name: to-day my date: O traveler, to-morrow is too late!"
_Edwin Markham._
From "The Gates of Paradise, and Other Poems."
TO A YOUNG MAN
"Jones write a book! Impossible! I knew his father." This att.i.tude towards distinction of any sort, whether in authorship or in the field of action, is characteristic of many of us. We think transcendent ability is entirely above and apart from the things of ordinary life.
Yet genius itself has been defined as common sense in an uncommon degree. The great men are human. Shakespeare remembered this when he said, "I think the king is but a man as I am." We should take heart at the thought that since the great are like us, we may develop ourselves until we are like them.
The great were once as you.
They whom men magnify to-day Once groped and blundered on life"s way, Were fearful of themselves, and thought By magic was men"s greatness wrought.
They feared to try what they could do; Yet Fame hath crowned with her success The selfsame gifts that you possess.
The great were young as you, Dreaming the very dreams you hold, Longing yet fearing to be bold, Doubting that they themselves possessed The strength and skill for every test, Uncertain of the truths they knew, Not sure that they could stand to fate With all the courage of the great.
Then came a day when they Their first bold venture made, Scorning to cry for aid.
They dared to stand to fight alone, Took up the gauntlet life had thrown, Charged full-front to the fray, Mastered their fear of self, and then Learned that our great men are but men.
Oh, Youth, go forth and do!
You, too, to fame may rise; You can be strong and wise.
Stand up to life and play the man-- You can if you"ll but think you can; The great were once as you.
You envy them their proud success?
"Twas won with gifts that you possess.
_Edgar A. Guest._
SLOGAN
Some men want ideal conditions with pay in advance before they will work. But the world does not want such men, and has little place for them.
Don"t prate about what is your right, But bare your fists and show your might; Life is another man to fight Catch as catch can.
Don"t talk of Life as scurvy Fate, Who gave you favors just too late, Or Luck who threw you smiles for bait Before he ran.
Don"t whine and wish that you were dead, But wrestle for your daily bread, And afterward let it be said "He was a man."
_Jane M"Lean._
SMILES
Smiles bring out the latent energies within us, as water reveals the bright colors in the stone it flows over.
Smile a little, smile a little, As you go along, Not alone when life is pleasant, But when things go wrong.
Care delights to see you frowning, Loves to hear you sigh; Turn a smiling face upon her, Quick the dame will fly.
Smile a little, smile a little, All along the road; Every life must have its burden, Every heart its load.