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Show j THE PATHS I One path there was all strewn with flowers; I longed to wander there and while away the hours, Free from youth-robbing care to mingle voice in song WithNature's notes mellifluous, discordant wrong No more to know. And yet onother path before me lay, Which Duty urged my feet to press a way, With wealth of crimson stains and tangled rue, That hid full many blanched bones from view Of mortal eyes. I followed on where Fancy bade me stray, And every thorn I gathered by the way, Did shed its fragile petals at my feet, ' Dust unto dust returning as was mete, It gave me not. I turned me back where Duty waiting stood, Stern Duty, vet withal so potent good! "0 Father God, where man hath bled and died, Unfaltering for right, help me to walk," I cried. And forward sped. i |