---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Fisher, Ila
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 20
number: 4
published: 1917-02
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Ila Fisher, "Sing On, O Heart: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 4 (February 1917): 339.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2004unse
  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: improvementera2004unse
start_page: 339
end_page: 339
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-02)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2004unse
  publication_year: 1917
  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 1917, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Sing On, O Heart: A Poem

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!

                      LITTLE LIJE'S "CHANCT"                     339

selves,   and pa said they had not, why should they not help
Little Lije   on the chance that had been presented to him by
Mr. McHarry?
     Susan Martha developed as her specialty the washing of the
                  —
outside windows a thriving industry in Silverberg at this time
of the year.  Jimmie stacked and split stove-wood in various
sheds.  Jane helped at light work in the kitchens. Peter cleaned
up lawns, while Maria and Jonathan did what ever they could
get.
    Mrs. Mozinge was elected to act as bank, and kept all the
combined earnings in an old stocking.
    "That's an awful big pile of money, ma," observed Jimmie
when two months had gone by. "But Lije he earned the most
of it."
     Lije smiled, and his smile was worth looking at. It shone
from his eyes; it parted his lips, and, by its illumination, one
could read the hope he had of future good to come. His father,
if he could have seen him, would never have recognized his son
                            —
in this alert, cheery mood, his son, who had now become well
nigh the idol of his family!
     When spring came, the chicken-house and small coops were
built, and everything had taken on an air of prosperity.     The
hens were setting, and the Mozinges were all but bursting with
happiness.
    "I said, I warrant I would wake up Little Lije," said Mr.
McHarry complacently, "but, land sakes! I've waked up the
whole family."

                       Sing on,        Heart

               Sing on, O Heart, thy daily song,
                 In gladdening harmony;
               Earth's misery needs the healing balm
                 Of cheery sympathy.
               Sing on,   Heart, though nights are long
                 And these are stormy days.
               Thy melody, if glad enough,
                  Can generate light rays.
                Sing on, O Heart, and weary not;
                  Be great and good and glad.
                Though troubles gnaw thy very core,
                 Sing of the joys you've had
 Heber, Utah                                       Ila Fisher.