Ah, he who is willing to work and wait,—
Who faces the cloud or the sun, and strong
With the strength that battles each adverse fate,
And that throttles each growing wrong,
Walks firm in the path, whether smooth or steep,
Whether wide or close, till he reach the goal,—
He, of all the world, is the one to keep,
As a guide where the high waves roll.
And he who has struggled through want and cold,
And has kept the road, till his feet have trod
the summits that shine with the morning gold,
Lo, he is the nearest to God.
yea, he who when the battle was stern and hard.
And the blows were heavy, has kept the path,
And has helped his comrades across the chard,
He has conquered both toil and wrath.
