Speak Gently

Speak gent­ly! it is bet­ter far

To rule by love than fear;

Speak gent­ly! let not harsh words mar

The good we might do here.

Speak gent­ly! Love doth whis­per low

The vows that true hearts bind;

And gent­ly friend­ship’s ac­cents flow;

Affection’s voice is kind.

Speak gent­ly to the lit­tle child;

Its love be sure to gain.

Teach it in ac­cents soft and mild;

It may not long re­main.

Speak gent­ly to the young

for they

Will have enough to bear;

Pass through this world as best they may

’Tis full of anx­ious care.

Speak gent­ly to the ag­èd one

Grieve not the care-worn heart;

The sands of life are near­ly run;

Let such in peace de­part.

Speak gent­ly

kind­ly to the poor;

Let no harsh tone be heard;

They have enough they must en­dure

Without an un­kind word.

Speak gent­ly to the err­ing; know

They must have toiled in vain;

Perchance un­kind­ness made them so;

Oh! win them back again.

Speak gent­ly: He who gave His life

To bend man’s stub­born will

When ele­ments were fierce in strife

Said to them

Peace

be still!

Speak gent­ly: ’tis a lit­tle thing

Dropped in the heart’s deep well;

The good

the joy which it may bring

Eternity shall tell.