Part 24 (1/2)

The welkin wonders when the ocean calls, And earth accepts the raindrop when it falls.

V.

There are no ”ups” in life, there are no ”downs,”

For ”high” and ”low” are words of like degree; He who is light of heart when Fortune frowns, He is a king though nameless in the towns.

VI.

None is so lofty as the sage who prays, None so unhigh as he who will not kneel.

The breeze is servant to the summer days, And he is bowed-to most who most obeys.

VII.

These are the maxims that I take to heart, Do thou accept them, reader, for thine own; Love well thy work; be truthful in the mart, And foes will praise thee when thy friends depart.

VIII.

None shall upbraid thee then for thine estate, Or show thee meaner than thou art in truth.

Make friends with death; and G.o.d who is so great, He will a.s.sist thee to a n.o.bler fate.

IX.

None are unfit to serve upon their knees The saints of prayer, unseen but quick to hear.

The flowers are servants to the pilgrim bees, And wintry winds are tyrants of the trees.

X.

All things are good; all things incur a debt, And all must pay the same, or soon or late The sun will rise betimes, but he must set; And Man must seek the laws he would forget.

XI.

There are no mockeries in the universe, No false accounts, no errors that will thrive.

The work we do, the good things we rehea.r.s.e, Are boons of Nature basely named a curse.

XII.

”Give us our daily bread!” the children pray, And mothers plead for them while thus they speak.

But ”Give us work, O G.o.d!” we men should say, That we may gain our bread from day to day.

XIII.

'Tis not alone the crown that makes the king; 'Tis service done, 'tis duty to his kind.