Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1920 — Just Folks [ARTICLE]

Just Folks

By EDGAR A. GUEST

PHILOSOPHY. It’s all worth while, he used to say When difficulties lined his . way. I’ve never known a trouble yet I wasn’t glad that I had met The minute I had seen it through. Because it proved what I could do. I’ve feared it, looking straight ahead, I’ve had my share of doubt and dread And yet. 'when it was over, I Looked backwards with a laughing eye And to myself I’d always say: You’ll boast about that task some day. I’ve never known a man so great That didn’t hunger to relate The hardships apd the cares he’d known Before success was his to own. The hunger that had made him whine Had also helped to make him fine. The failures that had tried his soul And seemed a barrier to his goal Had changed their bitterness for sweet And now are memories to repeat Man’s greatest Joy beneath the sun Is to recall what he has done. Today I laugh at yesterday And all the cares that-came my way; The past is only grim to those Who left their courage with its woes. Who plods along new Joys to win Looks back at trouble with a grin. And boastfully at times repeats The misery of his defeats. He tells his hardships with a smile And holds that they were all worth while. For all the secret Joys that last Spring from the hardships of the past So into every round of care And, every battle with despair I plunge, remembering the fun That it will mean when I am done. What hurts me now win some day be A very pleasant memory. And laughingly I may recall Tn future years the present fall. _ What seems today a fearful test Mey be tomorrow’s source of Jest And all that calls tor courage stout Some day Bl proudly boast about (Copyright ar A. Gewt.) ■