One of the most often-heard of sentences is "I don"t know what I"m to do in the world." Yet very few people are ever for a moment out of something to do, especially if they do not insist on climbing to the top of the pole and waving the flag, but are willing to steady the pole while somebody else climbs.
If you cannot on the ocean Sail among the swiftest fleet, Rocking on the highest billows, Laughing at the storms you meet; You can stand among the sailors, Anch.o.r.ed yet within the bay, You can lend a hand to help them As they launch their boats away.
If you are too weak to journey Up the mountain, steep and high, You can stand within the valley While the mult.i.tudes go by; You can chant in happy measure As they slowly pa.s.s along-- Though they may forget the singer, They will not forget the song.
If you cannot in the harvest Garner up the richest sheaves, Many a grain, both ripe and golden, Oft the careless reaper leaves; Go and glean among the briars Growing rank against the wall, For it may be that their shadow Hides the heaviest grain of all.
If you cannot in the conflict Prove yourself a soldier true; If, where fire and smoke are thickest, There"s no work for you to do; When the battle field is silent, You can go with careful tread; You can bear away the wounded, You can cover up the dead.
Do not then stand idly waiting For some greater work to do; Fortune is a lazy G.o.ddess, She will never come to you; Go and toil in any vineyard, Do not fear to do and dare.
If you want a field of labor You can find it anywhere.
_Ellen M.H. Gates._
VICTORY
To fail is not a disgrace; the disgrace lies in not trying. In his old age Sir Walter Scott found that a publishing firm he was connected with was heavily in debt. He refused to take advantage of the bankruptcy law, and sat down with his pen to make good the deficit. Though he wore out his life in the struggle and did not live to see the debt entirely liquidated, he died an honored and honorable man.
I call no fight a losing fight If, fighting, I have gained some straight new strength; If, fighting, I turned ever toward the light, All unallied with forces of the night; If, beaten, quivering, I could say at length: "I did no deed that needs to be unnamed; I fought--and lost--and I am unashamed."
_Miriam Teichner._
TIMES GO BY TURNS
One of the greatest blessings in life is alteration. The ins become outs, the outs ins; the ups become downs, the downs ups; and so on--and it is better so. We must not get too highly elated at success, for life is not all success. We must not grow too downcast from failure, for life is not all failure.
The lopped tree in time may grow again, Most naked plants renew both fruit and flower; The sorriest wight may find release of pain, The driest soil suck in some moistening shower; Time goes by turns, and chances change by course, From foul to fair, from better hap to worse.
The sea of Fortune doth not ever flow; She draws her favors to the lowest ebb; Her tides have equal times to come and go; Her loom doth weave the fine and coa.r.s.est web; No joy so great but runneth to an end, No hap so hard but may in fine amend.
Not always fall of leaf, nor ever Spring; Not endless night, yet not eternal day; The saddest birds a season find to sing; The roughest storm a calm may soon allay.
Thus, with succeeding turns G.o.d tempereth all, That man may hope to rise, yet fear to fall.
A chance may win that by mischance was lost; That net that holds no great takes little fish; In some things all, in all things none are crost; Few all they need, but none have all they wish.
Unmingled joys here to no man befall; Who least, hath some; who most, hath never all.
_Robert Southwell._
TO-DAY
The past did not behold to-day; the future shall not. We must use it now if it is to be of any benefit to mankind.
So here hath been dawning Another blue day; Think, wilt thou let it Slip useless away?
Out of Eternity This new day is born; Into Eternity, At night will return.
Behold it aforetime No eye ever did; So soon it for ever From all eyes is hid.
Here hath been dawning Another blue day; Think, wilt thou let it Slip useless away?
_Thomas Carlyle._
UNAFRAID
I have no fear. What is in store for me Shall find me ready for it, undismayed.
G.o.d grant my only cowardice may be Afraid--to be afraid!
_Everard Jack Appleton._
From "The Quiet Courage."
BORROWED FEATHERS
Many good, attractive people spoil the merits they have by trying to be something bigger or showier. It is always best to be one"s self.