Two Roads: One to Gain, The Other to Give
“How much can I get?” a young man said:
The morning of life was fair,
And the things to have and the things to hoard
Were glittering everywhere.
“It’s every man for himself,” said he,
“And I’m going to have my share.”
“How much can I give?” a young man said:
The morning of life was fair,
And the things to do and the things to be
Were beckoning everywhere.
“It’s every man for his brother,” said he,
“And I’m going to do my share.”
- * * *
At last, as the evening shadows fell,
A millionaire lay ill,
Served and tended by hireling hands,
Unerring and deft and chill;
There were those who knew him and loved him not—
But they want his money so!
And they waited and fretted and sighed and said:
“Why doesn’t he hurry and go?”
At last as the evening shadows fell,
A penniless man lay ill,
Watched and tended by loving hands,
And their voices were hushed and still;
And pale and saddened, they wept and said
“We cannot let him go!
If God would but spare him a few years more—
Because we need him so!”
—Ruby Elizabeth Hines.