THE WORLD WOULD BE THE BETTER FOR IT.

IF men cared less for wealth and fame,

And less for battle-fields and glory;

If, writ in human hearts, a name

Seemed better than in song and story;

If men, instead of nursing pride,

Would learn to hate and to abhor it--

If more relied

On Love to guide,

The world would be the better for it.

If men dealt less in stocks and lands,

And more in bonds and deeds fraternal;

If Love's work had more willing hands

To link this world to the supernal;

If men stored up Love's oil and wine,

And on bruised human hearts would pour it;

If “yours” and “mine”

Would once combine,

The world would be the better for it.

If more would act the play of Life,

And fewer spoil it in rehearsal;

If Bigotry would sheathe its knife

Till Good became more universal;

If Custom, gray with ages grown,

Had fewer blind men to adore it--

If talent shone

In truth alone,

The world would be the better for it.

If men were wise in little things--

Affecting less in all their dealings--

If hearts had fewer rusted strings

To isolate their kindly feelings;

If men, when Wrong beats down the Right,

Would strike together and restore it--

If Right made Might

In every fight,

The world would be the better for it.