Precious Seed

If no one planted precious seed
How barren all the land would be,
North and south and east and west,
Never plenty, never rest;
For a harvest rich and free,
Vain to plead.

Be ready, all along the way,
To seek the motive power of life;
Free to sow, to garner in,
Love its sure reward will win.
Undismayed by doubt or strife,
Work away.

If each man did the best he could
In winter as in summer time;
By pleasure’s side, on sorrow’s brink,
His life chain forging link by link;
Easy it would be to climb,
Doing good.