The Home Circle by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 3, 1884

The Home Circle.

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

ALL are architects of Fate, Working in these walls of time, Some with massive deeds and great, Some with ornaments of rhyme.

Nothing useless is, or low; Each thing in its place is best; And what seems but idle show Strengthens and supports the rest.

For the structure that we raise, Time is with materials filled; Our to-days and yesterdays Are the blocks with which we build.

Truly shape and fashion these; Leave no yawning gaps between; Think not, because no man sees, Such things will remain unseen.

Build to-day, then, strong and sure, With a firm and ample base; And ascending and secure Shall to-morrow find its place.

Thus alone can we attain To those turrets where the eye Sees the world as one vast plain, And one boundless reach the sky. —H. W. Longfellow.