Better Things

Better to smell the violet Than sip the glowing wine; Better to hearken to a brook Than watch a diamond shine. Better to have a loving friend Than ten admiring foes; Better a daisy's earthy root Than a gorgeous, dying rose. Better to love in loneliness Than bask in love all day; Better the fountain in the heart Than the fountain by the way. Better be fed by mother's hand Than eat alone at will; Better to trust in God, than say, My goods my storehouse fill. Better to be a little wise Than in knowledge to abound; Better to teach a child than toil To fill perfection's round. Better to sit at some man's feet Than thrill a listening state; Better suspect that thou art proud Than be sure that thou art great. Better to walk the realm unseen Than watch the hour's event; Better the Well done, faithful slave ! Than the air with shoutings rent. Better to have a quiet grief Than many turbulent joys; Better to miss thy manhood's aim Than sacrifice the boy's. Better a death when work is done Than earth's most favoured birth; Better a child in God's great house Than the king of all the earth.