Better Things

Better to smell a violet, Than sip the careless wine; Better to list one music tone, Than watch the jewels' shine. Better to have the love of one, Than smiles like morning dew; Better to have a living seed Than flowers of every hue. Better to feel a love within, Than be lovely to the sight; Better a homely tenderness Than beauty's wild delight. Better to love than be beloved. Though lonely all the day; Better the fountain in the heart, Than the fountain by the way. Better a feeble love to God, Than for woman's love to pine; Better to have the making God Than the woman made divine. 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 learned overmuch; Better than high are lowly thoughts, For truthful thoughts are such. Better than thrill a listening crowd, Sit at a wise man's feet; But better teach a child, than toil To make thyself complete. Better to walk the realm unseen, Than watch the hour's event; Better the smile of God alway, Than the voice of men's consent. Better to have a quiet grief Than a tumultuous joy; Better than manhood, age's face, If the heart be of a boy. Better the thanks of one dear heart, Than a nation's voice of praise; Better the twilight ere the dawn, Than yesterday's mid-blaze. 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.