---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Meakin, John Phillips
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 12
number: 9
published: 1909-07
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'John Phillips Meakin, "Quit Your Knocking," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 9 (July 1909): 727.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1209unse
  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: improvementera1209unse
start_page: 727
end_page: 727
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-07)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1209unse
  publication_year: 1909
  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 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Quit Your Knocking

<!-- page:727 -->

A GLIMPSE AT STEVENSON'S LAST RESTING PLACE.                                     727

of all this, which his gifted pen once so vividly could have por-
trayed   —   his   body rests peacefully in the grave.              But unlike the
majority of humanity, he lives in the memories of thousands, and
as the years glide by his devotees who happen to set foot on the
shores of this far off land will connect the two words, Stevenson
and Samoa and, Mohammedan-like, make the short pilgrimage up
the ''Winding Trail" to their Mecca, the simple slab of concrete.
Apia, Samoa.

                              QUIT YOU KNOCKING.

                     "Put your hammer in the locker,
                          Hide your sounding board likewise;
                     Any one can be a 'knocker;'
                       Any one can criticise.
                     Cultivate a manner winning,
                       Though it hurts your face to smile,
                     And seems awkward in beginning;
                        Be a booster for a while.

                     "Let the blacksmith do the Dounding,
                       That's the way he draws his pay,
                     You don't get a cent for hounding
                       Saint and sinner night and day.
                     Just for solid satisfaction
                       Drop a kind word in the slot.
                     And I'll warrant you'll get action
                       For your effort on the spot.

                      "Kindness every time beats kicking;
                        Mirth is better than a frown,
                      Do not waste your time in picking
                        Flaws with brothers who are down.
                      And if it isn't too distressing,
                        You just give a little boost
                      To the man the fates are pressing,
                        When the chicks come home to roost.

                      '
                          'Yes, this old world would be brighter,
                           If you'd kindle friendship's flame,
                      And thus make the trouble lighter,
                        For the man against the game.
                      Send your grouch on a vacation,
                        Give your grumbling tones the shake,
                      And with grim determination,
                        Throw your hammer in the lake."
Salt Lake City, Utah.
                                                          *»» Phillips Meakin.