LET the road be rough and dreary, And its end far out of sight; Foot it bravely—strong or weary;— Trust in God, and do the right.
LIFE is but a day, at best, Sprung from night, in darkness lost; Hope not sunshine every hour; Fear not—clouds will always lower.
ALL the paths of faith, tho’ severed wide, O’er which the feet of prayerful reverence pass Meet at the gate of Paradise at last.
IF I wake, or if I sleep, Still the memory I keep Of the tender light that lies In the depths of those brown eyes.
BE blessings scattered o’er thy way, My gladsome, joyous, laughing sprite; Be thy whole life one summer’s day Without the night.
ON this leaf, in memory prest, May my name forever rest.
ON this page I’ll write, simply to indite My name as your friend.
MAY thy life happy be, Is my dear wish for thee.
IT never pays to fret and growl When fortune seems our foe, The better bred will push ahead And strike the braver blow; For luck is work, And those who shirk Should not lament their doom, But yield the play, And clear the way, That better men have room.
DESIRE not to live long, but well; How long we live, not years, but actions, tell.
MEANNESS shun, and all its train; Goodness seek, and life is gain.
ROUND went the autograph; hither it came, For me to write in; so here’s my name.
PASSING through life’s field of action, Lest we part before its end, Take within your modest volume, This memento from a friend.
WE meet and part—the world is wide; We journey onward side by side A little while, and then again Our paths diverge. A little pain— A silent yearning of the heart For what has grown of life a part; A shadow passing o’er the sun, Then gone, and light again has come. We meet and part, and then forget; And life holds blessings for us yet.
WHEN things don’t go to suit you, And the world seems upside down, Don’t waste your time in fretting, But drive away the frown.
Old friends and true friends! Don’t talk to me of new friends; The old are the best, Who stand the test, Who book their name as _through_ friends.
MAY your coffee and slanders against you be ever the same—without grounds.
THE world is full of fools. And he who would none view, Must shut himself in a cave, And break his mirror, too.