Building

BUILDING. BY L. L. GREENE-RICHARDS. Since there is but one structure you can build, That' may not fail you, oh, ambitious youth! Build deep, build strong, build high; nor even gild. Or decorate, with aught but stainless Truth. Have Virtue for your firm foundation stone; Less solid things. Time's agents will consume; But these materials — these two, alone. Ensure your structure against evil doom. Sometimes, in youthful ardency and haste. You over-reach; and after, find some flaw; Rebuild with greater care, nor deem it waste. If, through the change, you learn some higher law. For each mistake, put true Repentance in; With evil, cold indiiference cannot cope; Refreshed each morn, your daily tasks begin With true humility, true faith, true hope. Your Father holds for you each gift and grace, And he will hand them over as you need; He knows your wants for every time and place; He points, he speaks— watch; listen — and take heed! Remember, all that is not true may turn; A seeming friendship, tested, may prove vain; A love, o'er which with tenderest thoughts you yearn. Instead of promised bliss, give intense pain.

BUILDING. 859 Lost friends, lost love, with scathing ridicule, For your mistaken trust, may fling you scorn; And with no pity for your pain, "0, fool!" They cry, "you'd better not been born!" You think such mocking jeers are heard; but wait; Your wounded heart may be o'er sensitive; You are but learning how to build; with great And Christ-like charity, forbear — forgive! Hard lessons in your building need be taught; Heroic still, your structure well endures; Build patiently; a gem, such as you sought, Refined, ennobled, shall be truly yours. Yours to enrich and bless and glorify The structure you would build; admit no doubt; The prize is yours, you'll hold it by and by, Your building would not be complete without. Build bravely on, nor turn to right nor left; More worthy, for o'ercoming worldly strife; Though of all chances else at once bereft. Virtue and Truth will gain Eternal Life. With heart kept pure, and clean, unsullid hands, Build for all ages, not alone for time; And lo, at last, your mighty structure stands, A Character, chaste, beautiful, sublime!