I sat me down by the wayside
To watch the passing throng
And guess at the varied interests
That moved each one along.
I saw the young and simple
Who flirt in wanton glee -
The hurrying man of business
As serious as could be.
I sat me down by the wayside
To note the crowd and din,
Where haste keeps ever silent
The still, small voice within;
For minds that brim with conquest
Forget what is right and wrong -
And hearts that seethe with lustings.
Unreasoning, drift along.
Behold th' approaching master!
With pompous ways supreme -
Perhaps he's just created
A Universe, I ween!
Now, what is God beside him
Who struts so proud and chill -
Omnipotence is nothing
When one has Power to Will!
O vaunting, crumbling castle,
O sod that stalks so fine -
Where didst thou get thy power,
Thy intellect sublime?
Well friend, just let me tell thee
A Truth that thou shouldst know -
Thou mayst be wise and mighty,
But such had e'en to grow.
Now listen, self-fooled debtor,
And learn this lesson well -
There's nothing so important
As keeping out of hell;
Too late thou mayst discover
Some laws must honored be -
No man has e'er escaped them
To this thou must agree.
No thing was e'er created
By man, and man alone -
The very thought thou thinkest,
God gives thee now to own;
Conception is receiving
And fostering, law on law,
The thought which God created
And full fruition saw.
All Power that was, or is, sir,
Or may seem given birth,
Comes straight from God Almighty,
Be it in heav'n or earth;
Then be not quite so haughty.
But choose a lowly place -
Humility becomes us
Who live but by His grace.
You may also consider this excerpt from the essay entitled Man, by Arthur Franklin Fuller:
If all the hopes of a life seem fair fulfilled and then the fell hand of Disaster sweep them all away; if the disciple find himself shorn of youth, with health impaired as well; should that unfortunate or tested one have the heart to start again, make the best of the existing conditions, pick up his worn-out tools and begin life all over again, then this representative of humankind deserves to have said of him, "That fellow is a man."
If one have the courage of his convictions and stand alone, firm, unshaken by assaults of eloquence or taunts of the hateful — stand pat and unflinching against the whole wide world:
If one seem guilty and yet refuse to squeal, faces incarceration in prison, consignment to an almshouse, or the gallows, to protect a woman:
If one equip himself with education and a disciplined body to serve humanity, not for wealth, fame or favor of a lovely woman — solely to do good, serve God by serving man, without selfish reservation or selfish ambition:
If one forego the normal rights and privileges as a duty in order to provide for aged or infirm parents:
If one can patiently bear imposition; unreasonable demands; false accusations; suspicion; the withholding of due reward; the deferring of hopes, without reviling — without losing faith in God or his fellowmen; without blaming anyone, realizing that the wrong the other fellow does is usually done because the doer cannot help it:
If one can stand on his own feet, not be a leaner — can be a kite and not merely a tail-piece for somebody else's; if he can bravely contend for right when it is time to fight, or patiently endure when it is time to wait; if one can live an unselfish life, unattached, demanding nothing but the privilege of being of use; if one persist faithfully, intelligently, in adhering to principle, is calm in danger, strong in affliction, patient in tribulation, good-natured in the face of vexing trials, honest in the face of temptation, truthful even though it would be more popular to lie:
If one avoids taking advantage of the weakness or ignorance of others; is also conscientious about the discharge of self-assumed obligations, then this candidate is attaining a high grade — is rising to such a standard of character excellence as would match in nobility the attributes of the other half of mankind — Woman.
Of such a worthy specimen might it well be said, "That fellow is a man!'
