LITTLE DEEDS
LITTLE

A nameless man, amid a crowd

That thronged the daily mart,
Let fall a word of Hope and Love,
Unstudied from the heart;
A whisper on the tumult thrown-
A transitory breath-

It raised a brother from the dust,—

It saved a soul from death.

O germ! O fount! O word of Love!
O thought at random cast!
Ye were but little at the first,

But mighty at the last!

391

CHARLES MACKAY

211

LITTLE DEEDS

Not mighty deeds make up the sum

Of happiness below;

But little acts of kindliness

Which any child may show.

A merry sound to cheer the babe,
And tell a friend is near;

A word of ready sympathy
To dry the childish tear.

A glass of water timely brought;
An offered easy-chair;
A turning of the window-blind,

That all may feel the air.

An early flower unasked bestowed;
A light and cautious tread;
A voice to gentlest whisper hushed
To spare the aching head.

Oh! deeds like these, though little things,

Yet purest love disclose,

As fragrant perfume on the air

Reveals the hidden rose.

ANONYMOUS

212

NOTHING IS LOST

Nothing is lost: the drop of dew
Which trembles on the leaf or flower,
Is but exhaled to fall anew

In summer's thunder-shower;

Perchance to shine within the bow

That fronts the sun at fall of day;
Perchance to sparkle in the flow
Of fountains far away.

Nothing is lost: the tiniest seed

By wild birds borne or breezes blown,
Finds something suited to its need,
Wherein 'tis sown and grown.
The language of some household song,
The perfume of some cherished flower,
Though gone from outward sense, belong
To memory's after-hour.

DEAR CHILDREN, WHEN THEY GO TO BED 393

So with our words: or harsh or kind,
Uttered, they are not all forgot;
They have their influence on the mind,
Pass on but perish not.

So with our deeds: for good or ill,

They have their pow'r scarce understood;

Then let us use our better will

To make them rife with good.

ANONYMOUS

213

DEAR CHILDREN, WHEN THEY GO TO
BED

Dear children, when they go to bed,
Should fold their hands in prayer,
And place themselves and all they love
In God Almighty's care;

Then they may sleep secure and still,

Through hours of darksome night,

And with the pretty daisy wake

In cheerful morning light.

ANONYMOUS

214

SMALL THINGS

I

One little grain in the sandy bars,
One little flower in a field of flowers,
One little star in a heaven of stars,
One little hour in a year of hours-
What if it makes or what if it mars?

But the bar is built of the little grains,

And the little flowers make the meadows gay, And the little stars light the heavenly plains, And the little hours of each little day Give to us all that life contains.

215

SMALL THINGS

II

ANONYMOUS

A little word in kindness spoken,

A motion, or a tear,

Has often healed a heart that's broken,
And made a friend sincere.

A word, a look, has crushed to earth
Full many a budding flower,
Which, had a smile but graced its birth,
Would bless life's darkest hour.

TO-DAY

Then deem it not an idle thing

A pleasant word to speak;

The face you wear, the thoughts you bring,
A heart may heal or break.

216

TO-DAY

So here hath been dawning

Another blue day;
Think, wilt thou let it
Slip useless away?

Out of Eternity

This new day is born;

Into Eternity,

At night, will return.

Behold it aforetime

No eye ever did;

So soon it forever

From all eyes is hid.

Here hath been dawning

Another blue day;
Think, wilt thou let it

Slip useless away?

395

ANONYMOUS

THOMAS CARLYLE