---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Haddock, Lorenzo J.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 10
number: 12
published: 1907-10
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Lorenzo J. Haddock, "Cheer Up: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 10, no. 12 (October 1907): 949.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera10012unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera10012unse
start_page: 949
end_page: 949
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1907-10)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera10012unse
  publication_year: 1907
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1907, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Cheer Up: A Poem

<!-- page:949 -->

' —
RELIGION AND REASON. 949
The dawning of a brighter day
Majestic rises on the world.
The clouds of error disappear
Before the rays of truth divine;
The glory, bursting from afar,
Wide o'er the nations soon will shine.
**For the knowledge of the glory of God shall cover the earth
'
as the waters cover the sea.
Mancos, Colo
CHEER UP!
{For the Improvement Era.)
["In my travels." says the author, "I have been surprised to note how
easily some men and women become discouraged. At the first little evidence of
adversity, — down, down, down go their hopes! Their eyes roll, their heads
droop, and they sit quietly down awaiting the end; whereas, a little bracing up,
a little asserting of man and womanhood would quickly dispel the mists, and let
the glorious sunlight in." He explains further that, while thinking of these
people, the jingle which follows came into his mind as a result Editors.]
What's the use of sitting with your head upon your breast?
You can't see the stars in that position !
Just the same, they're in the sky, and shining at their best;
Brightenin' up the world, 'cause that's their mission.
Take a look around you, see the people passing by!
Don't you think each one there has his sorrow ?
What if every one of them 'ud just sit down and sigh?
D'ye think this world u'd last until tomorrow?
Who'd do the harvestin*, and who u'd make the bread?
Who'd keep che wheels of commerce turnin' 'round?
If only just their sorrows keep a-crowdin' to their head.
Till every other thought of life was drowned ?
D'ye think that all the heroes are struggling on the battlefield?
There's hundreds of 'em 'round you every day;
Men and women sorely press' d, but yet who never yield;
Because they know there's nothin' gained that way.
Ain't you just as good as they, 'course you are! brace up !
Throw your chest out; take a good, deep breath !
Now, then ! you've a might pile of pleasures to "chase up."
Who was it talked a while ago of Death !
Salt Lake City, Utah. Lorenzo J. HAorocK.