"One by one the hours meet us,
In the shadow or the shine,
With the joy that comes to greet us,
Or the care that waits in line.
"One by one, and not in masses,
The heavy burden we must lift,
Bravely bearing, till it passes
From us, steadily and swift.
"One by one the bricks are laid in building,
Till the temple reaches grandest height,
With its slender spires of burnished gilding.
Pointing upward to the light.
"One by one each day will bring its duty,
Whilst courage meets the single need,
Till all trials blossom into beauty,
Till the toiler weaves the good into the deed
"One by one our heart-beats tell the story
Of the earth-life measured here,
Of its mystic web of golden glory,
Wrought from sorrow's falling tear."
