He Liveth Long Who Liveth Well

He liv­eth long who liv­eth well!

All oth­er life is short and vain;

He liv­eth long­est who can tell

Of liv­ing most for heav­en­ly gain.

He liv­eth long who liv­eth well!

All else is be­ing flung away;

He liv­eth long­est who can tell

Of true things tru­ly done each day.

Waste not thy be­ing; back to Him

Who free­ly gave it

free­ly give

Else is that be­ing but a dream

’Tis but to be

and not to live.

Be wise

and use thy wis­dom well;

Who wis­dom speaks must live it

too;

He is the wis­est who can tell

How first he lived

then spoke

the true.

Be what thou seem­est; live thy creed;

Hold up to earth the torch di­vine:

Be what thou pray­est to be made;

Let the great Mas­ter’s steps be thine.

Fill up each hour with what will last;

Buy up the mo­ments as they go;

The life above

when this is past

Is the ripe fruit of life be­low.

Sow love

and taste its fruit­age pure;

Sow peace

and reap its har­vest bright;

Sow sun­beams on the rock and moor

And find a har­vest-home of light.