Slowly fashioned, link by link,
Slowly waxing strong,
Till the spirit never shrink,
Save from touch of wrong.
Holy habits are thy wealth,
Golden, pleasant chains;
Passing earth's prime blessing--health,
Endless, priceless gains.
Holy habits give thee place
With the noblest, best,
All most godlike of thy race,
And with seraphs blest.
Holy habits are thy joy,
Wisdom's pleasant ways,
Yielding good without alloy,
Lengthening, too, thy days.
Seek them, Christian, night and morn;
Seek them noon and even;
Seek them till thy soul be born
Without stains--in heaven.
--Thomas Davis.