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JUST BE GLAD

Misfortunes overtake us, difficulties confront us; but these things must not induce us to give up. A Congressman who had promised Thomas B. Reed to be present at a political meeting telegraphed at the last moment: 'Cannot come; washout on the line.' 'No need to stay away,' said Reed's answering telegram; 'buy another shirt.'

O heart of mine, we shouldn't

Worry so!

What we've missed of calm we couldn't

Have, you know!

What we've met of stormy pain,

And of sorrow's driving rain,

We can better meet again,

If it blow!

We have erred in that dark hour

We have known,

When our tears fell with the shower,

All alone!--

Were not shine and shower blent

As the gracious Master meant?--

Let us temper our content

With His own.

For, we know, not every morrow

Can be sad;

So, forgetting all the sorrow

We have had,

Let us fold away our fears,

And put by our foolish tears,

And through all the coming years

Just be glad.

James Whitcomb Riley.

From the Biographical Edition Of the

Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley.

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