 | Poems of home and country |  |
353
THE GOOD AND GREAT MAN.
Who is the truly good and great?
Who, worthy of the highest fame?
And who, among the sons of men,
Shall hold the most distinguished name?
Who, worthy of the highest fame?
And who, among the sons of men,
Shall hold the most distinguished name?
The man whose heart and hands are pure;
Who rules his thoughts, who rules his will;
Resists temptation's fiercest flood,
Unsullied keeps his honor still;
Who rules his thoughts, who rules his will;
Resists temptation's fiercest flood,
Unsullied keeps his honor still;
Who heeds the cry of want and woe,
Who gently soothes the sufferer's pain;
Pities the tempted ones who fall,
And sets them on their feet again;
Who gently soothes the sufferer's pain;
Pities the tempted ones who fall,
And sets them on their feet again;
Who walks 'neath heaven's o'er-arching dome
Purely as angels' feet might tread;
And love and faith combine to weave
A glorious halo round his head;
Purely as angels' feet might tread;
And love and faith combine to weave
A glorious halo round his head;
Who, earnest, keeps, with reverent step,
The ways the pious fathers trod;
Who shuns the intoxicating cup,
And loves his country and his God,—
The ways the pious fathers trod;
Who shuns the intoxicating cup,
And loves his country and his God,—
He shall enjoy the highest praise
To mortals due, to mortals given;
Be owned, an honor to his race,
And wear the crown of life in heaven.
To mortals due, to mortals given;
Be owned, an honor to his race,
And wear the crown of life in heaven.
| Poems of home and country | |