Lines Written in Her Brother R. F. F.’s Journal
“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.”—Psalms xxxvii. 37.
The man of heart and words sincere,
Who truth and justice follows still,
Pursues his way with conscience clear,
Unharmed by earthly care and ill.
His promises he never breaks,
But sacredly to each adheres;
Honor’s straight path he ne’er forsakes,
Though danger in the way appears.
He never boasts, will ne’er deceive,
For vanity nor yet for gain;
All that he says you may believe;
For worlds he would not conscience stain.
If he desires what others do,
And they deserve it more than he,
He gives to them what is their due,
Happy in his humility.
Not to his friends alone he’s kind,
But his foes too with candor sees;
Not to their good intentions blind,
Though hopeless their dislike t’ appease.
His eyes are clear, his hands are pure,
To God it is his constant prayer
That, be he rich or be he poor,
He never may wrong actions dare.
If rich, he to the suffering gives
All he can spare, and thinks it just,
That, since he by God’s bounty lives,
He should as steward hold his trust.
If poor, he envies not; he knows
How covetousness corrupts the heart,
Whatever a just God bestows
Receiving as his proper part.
O Father, such a man I’d be;
Like him would act, like him would pray:
Lead me in truth and purity
To win thy peace and see thy day.