Lend a Hand

By Jenni, July 15, 2013

My youngest son selected this poem to read aloud in homeschool this morning. I hadn’t heard it before, and really enjoyed it, so I thought I would share. 🙂

Lend a Hand

Lend a hand to one another
In the daily toil of life;
When we meet a weaker brother,
Let us help him in the strife.
There is none so rich but may,
In his turn, be forced to borrow;
And the poor man’s lot today
May become our own tomorrow.

Lend a hand to one another:
When malicious tongues have thrown
Dark suspicion on your brother,
Be not prompt to cast a stone.
There is none so good but may
Run adrift in shame and sorrow –
And the good man of today
May become the bad tomorrow.

Lend a hand to one another:
In the race for Honor’s crown;
Should it fall upon your brother,
Let not envy tear it down.
Lend a hand to all, we pray,
In their sunshine or their sorrow;
And the prize they’ve won today
May become our own tomorrow.*

 

* McGuffey, William Holmes. “Lend a Hand.” McGuffey’s Third Eclectic Reader. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997. 25-26.