own.

MANY.

Many a grand ambition
Had birth and died in a day,
From lack of vigorous nursing
To keep it from decay.

Many a hope has faded
And sunk in deepest despair,
Through lack of careful pruning
That fruitage it might bear.

Many a mind is ruined
And becomes chaotic mass,
Through want of systematic
Training in the class.

Many a song of sweetness
Has lost its harmony,
Because at its beginning
It had not the proper key.

Many a field most fertile
Bears vile and noxious weeds,
Through failure of the tiller
To sow some worthy seeds.

Many a flower of beauty
And sweetness blooms unseen,
And dies in its seclusion
On a bed of mossy green.

Better to have no talent,
No excellence to give,
Than permit vice to destroy
The talent we may have.

* * * * *

No dam can restrain the water
When leaks receive no care,
When the tempest in wild fury
Doth chafe and gnaw and tear,
And no hand is raised to succor,
No effort to repair,
Till the torrent bursts in fury
And fills us with despair.
'Tis too late then for repining,
Too late, for work or prayer.

DUTY DONE.

A duty done is victory won,
E'en though in the doing,
Efforts may fail to bring avail
In lines we are pursuing.

Nothing is lost whate'er the cost,
When efforts made are noble,
Beyond the sky acts never die,
And honor's crown is double.

Right cannot fail, but must prevail,
If noble be the motive;
Heaven is nigher if we aspire
With hearts sincere and votive.

Much strength we gain when we maintain
A truth for truth's sake solely;
A mighty power guides effort's hour
And stamps its cause as holy.

If honest heart act well its part,
And ask the aid of heaven
Its feeblest word will be so heard
That succor will be given.

It matters not how low our lot
We rise by honest trial;
No effort made for needed aid
E'er met complete denial.

The soul expands when it demands
A right for self and others,
And darkest night has ray of light
For honest helpful brothers.

A noble soul spurns the control
Would bind in servile fetters;
No chains can bind God-given mind
Inspired by love an