Friends and Neighbors; Or, Two Ways of Living in the World

THE WORLD WOULD BE THE BETTER FOR IT.

     IF men cared less for wealth and fame,
       And less for battle-fields and glory;
     If, writ in human hearts, a name
       Seemed better than in song and story;
     If men, instead of nursing pride,
       Would learn to hate and to abhor it—
         If more relied
         On Love to guide,
     The world would be the better for it.

     If men dealt less in stocks and lands,
       And more in bonds and deeds fraternal;
     If Love's work had more willing hands
       To link this world to the supernal;
     If men stored up Love's oil and wine,
       And on bruised human hearts would pour it;
         If “yours” and “mine”
          Would once combine,
     The world would be the better for it.

     If more would act the play of Life,
       And fewer spoil it in rehearsal;
     If Bigotry would sheathe its knife
       Till Good became more universal;
     If Custom, gray with ages grown,
       Had fewer blind men to adore it—
         If talent shone
         In truth alone,
     The world would be the better for it.

     If men were wise in little things—
       Affecting less in all their dealings—
     If hearts had fewer rusted strings
       To isolate their kindly feelings;
     If men, when Wrong beats down the Right,
       Would strike together and restore it—
         If Right made Might
         In every fight,
     The world would be the better for it.