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By the Sea, and Other Verses

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<h2>WHO IS SUFFICIENT?</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Six-and-thirty little mortals Coming to be taught; And mine that most "delightful task To rear the tender thought." Merry, mischief-loving children, Thoughtless, glad and gay, Loving lessons—"just a little," Dearly loving play. </div> <div class="stanza"> Six-and-thirty souls immortal, Coming to be fed; Needing "food convenient for them," As their daily bread. Bright and happy little children, Innocent and free, Coming here their life-long lessons Now to learn of me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Listen to the toilsome routine, List, and answer them, For these things who is sufficient 'Mong the sons of men? Now they, at the well-known summons, Cease their busy hum; And, some with pleasure, some reluctant, To the school-room come. </div> <div class="stanza"> Comes a cunning little urchin With defiant eye, "Making music" with his marbles As he passes by. But, alas! the pretty toys are [Pg 20] Taken from him soon, And the music-loving Willie Strikes another tune! </div> <div class="stanza"> Comes a lisping little beauty, Scarce five summers old; Baby voice and blue eyes pleading, "Please, misth, I'm stho cold!" Little one, the world is chilly, All too cold for thee; From its storms "Our Father" shield thee, And thy refuge be. </div> <div class="stanza"> While I turn to caution Johnny Not to make such noise; Mary parses: "Earth's an adverb, In the passive voice." Well, indeed, it must be passive, Else it is not clear How such open language-murder, Goes unpunished here. </div> <div class="stanza"> "Second Reader Class" reciting— "Lesson verse or prose?" None in all the class is certain; Each one thinks he knows. "Well," is queried then, "the difference Who can now define?" Answers Rob: "In verse they never Finish out the line!" </div> <div class="stanza"> Boy, thy thought doth strangely thrill me, And as hours roll on, Hears my heart a solemn query: Is my day's work done? Do I make of this my life-task [Pg 21] Prose or idle rhyme? Do I in the sight of Heaven Finish out the line? </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, it is "too fine a knowledge" For our mortal sight, All these restless little creatures How to lead aright. He who prayeth while he worketh, Taking lessons still Of the Friend of little children, Learning all His will; </div> <div class="stanza"> He alone can walk before them Worthily and well; He alone of life's strange language Can the meaning tell. May I then with heart as tender As a little child Lead my flock; and Father, keep them Pure and undefiled. </div> </div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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