Hearts that are great beat never loud;
They muffle their music, when they come;
They hurry away from the thronging crowd
With bended brows and lips half dumb.
And the world looks on and mutters--"Proud."
But when great hearts have passed away,
Men gather in awe and kiss their shroud,
And in love they kneel around their clay.
Hearts that are great are always lone;
They never will manifest their best;
Their greatest greatness is unknown,
Earth knows a little--God the rest.
--Abram J. Ryan.