Work!

Laggard! thou'rt sitting idly,With useless folded hands,—Unmindful of the desert spotsAnd wastes of barren lands.Up! rouse from this dead stupor,And gird thine armor on!When once a firm resolve is made,Full half the battle's won!

What right hast thou to squanderThe talents God has sent?What right in rust to buryThe powers He has lent?Do battle bravely, ever,In stern defense of right,And carve in faith a shining wayUp to the hills of light.

The whole world calls for labor!There is a thirsty dearthOf earnest, working Christian souls,Throughout this wide-spread earth;A lack of strong-armed pioneersTo break the ranks of sin,And woo to Virtue's safe retreatThe footsore wanderer in.

Up from this dull supineness!Up with a righteous trust!Why in this aimless, idle lifeLet noble talents rust?Work while the day endureth,Work ere the night shall come;At evening, when the shadows fall,God calls his servants home.