The Home Journal

THE WORLD WOULD BE BETTER FOR IT.
If men cared less for wealth and fame
And less for battle fields and glory;
If, writ in human hearts, a name
Seemed better than in song and story;
If men, instead of nursing pride,
Would learn to hate it and abhor it:
If more relied
On love to guide,
The world would be better for it.
If men dealt less in stocks and lands
And more in bonds and deeds fraternal;
If love's work had more willing hands
To link this world to the supernal;
If men stored up love's oil and wine,
And on bruised human hearts did pour it:
If "yours" and "mine"
Would once combine,
The world would be better for it.
If more would act the play of life,
And fewer spoil it in rehearsal;
If bigotry would sheathe its knife
Till good became more universal;
Custom, gray with ages grown,
Had fewer blind men to adore it:
If talent shone
In truth alone,
The world would be better for it.
If men were wise in little things—
Affecting less in all their dealings;
If hearts had fewer rusted strings
To isolate their kindly feelings;
If men, when wrong beat down the right,
Would strike together to restore it:
If right made might
In every fight,
The world would be the better for it.