If we knew the cares and sorrows
Crowded round our neighbor's way,
If we knew the little losses,
Sorely grievous, day by day,
Would we then so often chide him
For the lack of thrift and gain,
Leaving on his heart a shadow
Leaving on our hearts a stain?
If we knew the clouds above us,
Held by gentle blessings there,
Would we turn away, all trembling,
In our blind and weak despair?
Would we shrink from little shadows
Lying on the dewy grass
While 'tis only birds of Eden
Just in mercy flying past?
Let us reach within our bosoms
For the key to other lives,
And with love to erring natures
Cherish good that still survives;
So that when our disrobed spirits
Soar to realms of light again,
We may say, "Dear Father, judge us
As we judged our fellow men."
Time to me this truth hath taught,
'Tis a truth that's worth revealing:
More offend from want of thought
Than from want of feeling.
If advice we would convey,
There's a time we should convey it;
If we've but a word to say,
There's a time in which to say it.