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Poem
August 15, 1857
The Feliciana Democrat
Clinton, East Feliciana County, Louisiana
What is this article about?
A celebratory poem praising the virtues of a 'good heart' and 'willing hand' as true friends that bring joy, prosperity, and inspiration to life, transforming poverty and hardship into richness and merriment through honest labor and kindness.
Clipping
OCR Quality
85%
Good
Full Text
The Feliciana Democrat.
GOOD HEART AND WILLING HAND
BY CHARLES MACKAY.
In storm or shine, two friends of mine
Go forth to work or play,
And when they visit poor men's homes,
They bless them by the way.
'Tis willing hand! 'tis cheerful heart!
The two best friends I know;
Around the heart come joy and mirth,
Where'er their faces glow.
Come shine—'tis bright! come dark—'tis light!
Come cold—'tis warm ere long!
So heavily fall the hammer stroke!
Merrily sound the song!
Who falls may stand, if good right hand
Is first, not second best;
Who weeps may sing, if kindly heart
Has lodging in his breast.
The humblest board has dainties poured,
When they sit down to dine;
The bread they eat, is honey sweet,
The water good as wine.
They fill the purse with honest gold,
They lead no creature wrong;
So merrily fall the hammer stroke!
Merrily sound the song!
Without these twain the poor complain
Of evils hard to bear,
But with them poverty grows rich,
And finds a loaf to spare!
Their looks are fire—their words inspire—
Their deeds give courage high;
About their knees the children run,
Or climb, they know not why.
Who sails, or rides, or walks with them,
Ne'er finds the journey long;
So heavily fall the hammer stroke!
Merrily sound the song.
GOOD HEART AND WILLING HAND
BY CHARLES MACKAY.
In storm or shine, two friends of mine
Go forth to work or play,
And when they visit poor men's homes,
They bless them by the way.
'Tis willing hand! 'tis cheerful heart!
The two best friends I know;
Around the heart come joy and mirth,
Where'er their faces glow.
Come shine—'tis bright! come dark—'tis light!
Come cold—'tis warm ere long!
So heavily fall the hammer stroke!
Merrily sound the song!
Who falls may stand, if good right hand
Is first, not second best;
Who weeps may sing, if kindly heart
Has lodging in his breast.
The humblest board has dainties poured,
When they sit down to dine;
The bread they eat, is honey sweet,
The water good as wine.
They fill the purse with honest gold,
They lead no creature wrong;
So merrily fall the hammer stroke!
Merrily sound the song!
Without these twain the poor complain
Of evils hard to bear,
But with them poverty grows rich,
And finds a loaf to spare!
Their looks are fire—their words inspire—
Their deeds give courage high;
About their knees the children run,
Or climb, they know not why.
Who sails, or rides, or walks with them,
Ne'er finds the journey long;
So heavily fall the hammer stroke!
Merrily sound the song.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Good Heart
Willing Hand
Cheerful Heart
Honest Work
Poverty Joy
Moral Instruction
Charles Mackay
What entities or persons were involved?
By Charles Mackay.
Poem Details
Title
Good Heart And Willing Hand
Author
By Charles Mackay.
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
'Tis Willing Hand! 'Tis Cheerful Heart! The Two Best Friends I Know;
So Heavily Fall The Hammer Stroke! Merrily Sound The Song!
Without These Twain The Poor Complain Of Evils Hard To Bear, But With Them Poverty Grows Rich, And Finds A Loaf To Spare!