THE CHANCE GOD GIVES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 10, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 28.

THE CHANCE GOD GIVES

“I’LL pass this way but once,” a fool cried out, “And therefore I will laugh and take my ease; Let others toil and sweat and fret and doubt, And miss the chance God gives them, if they please; But I will journey down the careless ways, And ope my eyes to none but happy days.”

“I’ll pass this way but once,” another said, “Hence all that God laid out for me to do I must be doing as I fare ahead, That He may say, ‘Well done,’ when I am thru; By word and deed I’ll do my best to spread Good cheer along the pathways that I tread.”

The wise man did his work, and did it well; And people blessed him as he went along, And fewer tears, because he labored, fell, And higher swelled the chorus of the song— The song of joy God meant that men should raise, The splendid song of brotherhood and praise.

The useless fool went dawdling here and there, Unmindful of all feelings but his own; What if men sang or sobbed? He didn’t care. One morn he woke to find all pleasure flown! His tongue was thick and dry; he cursed his lot, And shriveled up, and passed—and was forgot.

—Selected.