THE HERITAGE. 93 THE HERITAGE. THE rich man's son inherits lands, And piles of brick and stone, and gold; And he inherits soft, white hands, And tender flesh that fears the cold, Nor dares to wear a garment old: A heritage, it seems to me, The rich man's son inherits cares: The bank may break, the factory burn, The rich man's son inherits wants; His stomach craves for dainty fare; Of toiling hinds with brown arms bare, One scarce would wish to hold in fee. What doth the poor man's son inherit? King of two hands, he does his part A king might wish to hold in fee. What doth the poor man's son inherit? A heritage, it seems to me, What doth the poor man's son inherit ? To make the outcast bless his door: A heritage, it seems to me, A king might wish to hold in fee. O rich man's son! there is a toil That with all others level stands : Large charity doth never soil, But only whiten soft, white hands,This is the best crop from thy lands: THE HERITAGE. A heritage, it seems to me, Worth being rich, to hold in fee. O poor man's son! scorn not thy state; In merely being rich and great; Toil only gives the soul to shine, Both, heirs to some six feet of sod, A heritage, it seems to me, LOWELL. 95 A PARABLE. WORN and footsore was the prophet "God of all the olden prophets! "Hear me, guider of my fathers, Bowing then his head, he listened But the tuft of moss before him And from out the rock's hard bosom A PARABLE. "God, I thank Thee!" said the prophet; "Hard of heart and blind was I, Looking to the holy mountain For the gifts of prophecy. "Still Thou speakest with Thy children Freely, as in eld sublime; Humbleness, and love, and patience Shall give empire over time. Had I trusted in my nature, And had faith in lowly things, Thou Thyself would'st then have sought me "But I looked for signs and wonders That o'er men should give me sway; Thirsting to be more than mortal, "Ere I entered on my journey, "In her hand she held a flower, Which, beside my very threshold, She had plucked and brought to me." H LOWELL. 97 |