The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1885-06-25
-:POETRY;-
FIND YouE LEVEL.

~ An be q fishing shallop IL you can
not be ship,
n voS can not be a lighthouse oe W
DUast a tallow dip'
Yoa 81, be a valiant soldier tho"g"
vSls may not be host, 49,.
v<s IN watch n single head'anu "
YOU can not guard coast
Thers Is everything that's noo'e vi
ne wisdom and the grace
Of fulalling every duty, whatsoever
q your place.
n you spend the day In pining ana !"
barring at the sun. .
You will fluid that you are biinueo
long before the day is done.
ne61er be the humble limpet that Is
vafe where'er IL clings,
T9>nn attempt IN eagles s"arings
when you lack the eagles wings
Thser are some MS swift rs swallows
there are others who must creep
And you never saw turtle try to take
q tigers leap.
n vsu can not be n raixhan with its
thunderous report
h eontent to carry powder IN a cor
ner OF the fort;
n vou can not rule an army with q
vreaf commanders skill,
voa can fire common musket IN
obedi snce to his will;
tPhere is but a single compass IN the
ship, however great
MT each rivet aud sailfiber holds a
portion OF its fate.
Never try to hold bushel II des'gn@t
to hold a peck,
or outreach the cranes and ca:neis
with your half an inch OF neck,
Never try TO race with dolphins IL you
can not even swim,
or to challenge hawks for vision II
your eyes be old and dim;
Never spread grain Of butter over
Tf fifty yards of bread,
o. attempt with penny trumpets to
iff awaken up the dead.
Not every stick Of timber that Is iht to
make u mast,
Not every structure builded is Py-
ramid to last,
Not every piece OF music is an anthem
or u psalm,
Not every growing sapliag that is pine
or lofty palm;
Yet every mossy atom has its own pc
culiar grace,
And each its perfect usefulness or
beauty in its place.
These truths are old and hoary, yet
we nee them every day,
TO reconcile our longings to the limits
"a of our way;
The only true philosopher is he who
learns content,
ThouglFquartered in palace or but
sheltered in his tent;
Whose cheerful soul is ready to en-
compass what it can,
Nor vex itself in criticising Gods eter-
nal plan.
The secret OF the journey is to know
and bear its length;
The key OF every effort is to rightly
gauge your strength;
Accepting what is given you with the
patience that but asks
The knowledge for its purpose and
the courage for its tasks;
Content to struggle bravely and with
honor In the strife,
Whether called to lead or follow on
the battlefields of life.
We ask no higher mission than sue
cessfuily to teach
The vanity OF grasping for the things
beyond our reach;
or wasting modest talent ia ambitions
useless fret,
To reap but bitter failure and the ASH
es OF regret
Go, study what is in thee, and to he a
noble man,
Know first; then do thy duty In the
Greut Eternars plan.
So shalt thou know contentment and
contentmeat's rich increase,
A life endowed with blessings and a
spirit filed with peace;
A dearth OF disappoiatnsnts and oI
hours with Pride perPlsTed,
or jealousies, heartburnings that sc
many lives have vexed.
When dead, though Prince or peas
. ant, 'tis enough that they should
tell:
"He knew his place and purpose, and
performed each duty we'll"
y. EdSar Jca'cs, IN Current