Wouldn't this old world be better
If the folks we meet would say- "I know something good about you!" And treat us just that way? Wouldn't it be fine and dandy If each handclasp, fond and true, Carried with it this assurance- "I know something good about you!" Wouldn't life be lots more happy If the good that's in us all Were the only thing about us That folks bothered to recall? Wouldn't life be lots more happy If we praised the good we see? For there's such a lot of goodness In the worst of you and me! Wouldn't it be nice to practise That fine way of thinking, too? You know something good about me, I know something good about you? -Louis C. Shimon
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If I knew you and you knew me-
If both of us could clearly see, And with an inner sight divine The meaning of your heart and mine- I'm sure that we would differ less And clasp our hands in friendliness; Our thoughts would pleasantly agree If I knew you, and you knew me. If I knew you and you knew me, As each one knows his own self, we Could look each other in the face And see therein a truer grace. Life has so many hidden woes, So many thorns for every rose; The "why" of things our hearts would see, If I knew you and you knew me. -Nixon Waterman When some great sorrow, like a mighty river,
Flows through your life with peace-destroying power, And dearest things are swept from sight forever, Say to your heart each trying hour: "This, too, shall pass away." When ceaseless toil has hushed your song of gladness, And you have grown almost too tired to pray, Let this truth banish from your heart its sadness, And ease the burdens of each trying day: "This, too, shall pass away." When fortune smiles, and, full of mirth and pleasure, The days are flitting by without a care, Lest you should rest with only earthly treasure, Let these few words their fullest import bear: "This, too, shall pass away." When earnest labor brings you fame and glory, And all earth's noblest ones upon you smile, Remember that life's longest, grandest story Fills but a moment in earth's little while: "This, too, shall pass away." -Lanta Wilson Smith You never can tell when you send a word
Like an arrow shot from a bow By an archer blind, be it cruel or kind, Just where it may chance to go. It may pierce the breast of your dearest friend, Tipped with its poison or balm, To a stranger's heart in life's great mart It may carry its pain or its calm. You never can tell when you do an act Just what the result will be, But with every deed you are sowing a seed, Though the harvest you may not see. Each kindly act is an acorn dropped In God's productive soil; You may not know, but the tree shall grow With shelter for those who toil. You never can tell what your thoughts will do In bringing you hate or love, For thoughts are things, and their airy wings Are swifter than carrier doves. They follow the law of the universe- Each thing must create its kind, And they speed o'er the track to bring you back Whatever went out from your mind. -Ella Wheeler Wilcox 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, Anchored 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 multitude go by. You can chant in happy measure, As they slowly pass along; Though they may forget the singer, They will not forget the song. If you have not gold and silver Ever ready to command, If you cannot toward the needy Reach an ever-open hand, You can visit the afflicted, O'er the erring you can weep; You can be a true disciple, Sitting at the Saviour's feet. If you cannot in the conflict Prove yourself a soldier true, If where the fire and smoke are thickest There's no work for you to do, When the battle field is silent, You can go with a 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 goddess, She will never come to you. Go and toil in any vineyard, Do not fear to do or dare; If you want a field of labor, You can find it anywhere. -Ellen M. H. Gates 'Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
The touch of your hand mine, Which means far more to the fainting heart Than shelter and bread and wine; For shelter is gone when the night is o'er, And bread lasts only a day, But the touch of the hand and the sound of the voice Sing on in the soul away. -Spencer Michael Free It is easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows by like a song, But the man worth while is one who will smile, When everything goes dead wrong. For the test of the heart is trouble, And it always comes with the years, And the smile that is worth the praises of earth Is the smile that shines through tears. It is easy enough to be prudent, When nothing tempts you to stray, When without or within no voice of sin Is luring your soul away; But it's only a negative virtue Until it is tried by fire, And the life that is worth the honor on earth Is the one that resists desire. By the cynic, the sad, the fallen, Who had no strength for the strife, The world's highway is cumbered to-day; They make up the sum of life. But the virtue that conquers passion, And the sorrow that hides in a smile, It is these that are worth the homage on earth For we find them but once in a while. -Ella Wheeler Wilcox If you have a friend worth loving,
Love him. Yes, and let him know That you love him, ere life's evening Tinge his brow with sunset glow. Why should good words ne'er be said Of a friend-till he is dead? If you hear a song that thrills you, Sung by any child of song, Praise it. Do not let the singer Wait deserved praises long. Why should one who thrills your heart Lack the joy you may impart? If you hear a prayer that moves you By its humble, pleading tone, Join it. Do not let the seeker Bow before his God alone. Why should not your brother share The strength of "two or three" in prayer? If you see the hot tears falling From a brother's weeping eyes, Share them. And by kindly sharing Own our kinship in the skies. Why should anybe be glad When a brother's heart is sad? If a silvery laugh goes rippling Through the sunshine on his face, Share it. 'Tis the wise man's saying- For both grief and joy a place. There's health and goodness in the mirth In which an honest laugh has birth. If your work is made more easy By a friendly, helping hand, Say so. Speak out brave and truly Ere the darkness veil the land. Should a brother workman dear Falter for a word of cheer? Scatter thus your seeds of kindness All enriching as you go- Leave them. Trust the Harvest Giver; He will make each seed to grow. So until the happy end Your life shall never lack a friend. -Unknown The world has room for the manly man, with the spirit of manly cheer;
The world delights in the man who smiles when his eyes keep back the tear; It loves the man who, when things are wrong, can take his place and stand With his face to the fight and his eyes to the light, and toil with a willing hand; The manly man is the country's need, the moment's need, forsooth, With a heart that beats to the pulsing troop of the lilied leagues of truth; The world is his and it waits for him, and it leaps to hear the ring Of the blow he strikes and the wheels he turns and hammers he dares to swing; It likes the forward look on his face, the poise of his noble head, And the onward lunge of his tireless will and the sweep of his dauntless tread! Hurrah for the manly man who comes with sunlight on his face, And the strength to do and the will to dare and the courage to find his place! The world delights in the manly man, and the weak and evil flee When the manly man goes forth to hold his own on land or sea! -Unknown If you hear a kind word spoken
Of some worthy soul you know, It may fill his heart with sunshine If you only tell him so. If a deed, however humble, Helps you on your way to go, Seek the one whose hand has helped you, Seek him out and tell him so! If your heart is touched and tender Toward a sinner, lost and low, It might help to do better If you'd only tell him so! Oh, my sisters, oh, my brothers, As o'er life's rough path you go, If God's love has saved and kept you, Do not fail to tell men so! -Unknown |
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