23. THE THREE W'S,- WORK, WATCH, WAIT. ON a stormy night in New York, when the rivers were filled with floating ice, and a heavy sea-fog settled over the city, the steam-whistles, fog-horns, and bells resounded from all directions. The news-boys assembled in their hall, it being Sunday, for singing, and to listen to words of cheer and counsel. Three W's on their blackboard were thus explained. WATCH! boys, watch! The signal-lights are flashing, But gird your belt, and steer your craft along, voyage o'er, you The Watch! boys, watch! Work! boys, work! The idler's task is never done: The faithful rest when he has just begun. If duty be your law, and work be fitly done, Your God your guide, your hope, His spotless Son. Wait! boys, wait! Be sure you 're right, then sail ahead; Impatient zeal to victory never led. With courage firm, and temper ever sweet, With cheerful zest your every task to meet; With kindness pure, for all who toil with you, Watch, work, and wait, boys! but waiting, watch and work! Who, gathered in this cheerful hall, to-night, With faith in God; and fearing ill to do, Yes! watch, work, and wait, boys! beginning now; HENRY B. CARRINGTON. 24. HOW TO HAVE JUST WHAT WE HARD by a poet's attic lived a chemist, And though unflattered by the dimmest To find the art of changing metals, And so coin guineas from his pots and kettles, Our starving poet took occasion But with an offer to impart; For twenty pounds, the secret art The money paid, poor bard was hurried Crowed, capered, giggled, seemed to spurn his And cried, as he secured the door, "Now, now, the secret, I implore! For Heaven's sake, speak, discover, utter!" With grave and solemn air the poet HORACE SMITH. 25. WHAT MIGHT BE DONE. WHAT might be done if men were wise,— In love and right, And cease the scorn of one another! Oppression's heart might be imbued With purest drops of loving-kindness, From shore to shore, Light on the eyes of mental blindness. All slavery, warfare, lies, and wrongs, To each man born, Be free as warmth in summer weather. The meanest wretch that ever trod, In self-respect, And share the teeming world to-morrow. What might be done? This might be done, E'er said or sung, If men were wise, and loved each other. CHARLES MACKAY 26. HOW WE TAKE IT. THE world is quite as good a world To pine o'er evil here, and die, But we should seek a cure for wrong, This world is not a place for man To count all things as holy; For though we act a manly part E'en when life's sun shines clearly. This world is fair to those who seek Where charms of earth are given, The world is what we make it, friends, True worth will bring us pleasure; The world is quite as good a world Whate'er betides, we take it; To show us that each cross will bring THEODORE D. C. MILLER, M. D. HOW TO TAKE IT. PATIENCE and time do more than strength and passion. RACINE. |