"Every thought that is not noble,
Every moment spent amiss-
Takes us further from our heaven,
Turns aside an angel's kiss.

Every moment spent in fretting,
Every uttered unkind word,
Sets in motion tones of discord
That by troubled hearts are heard.

But each thought, kind, true and loving
Helps to lift a brother's load-
Helps him up if he has fallen,
Starts him on a smoother road.

Can we then not spare some sunshine?
Even tho' our share seems small,
Why not answer quickly, brightly,
When the fallen strugglers call?

Give them thoughts and words will follow,
Words of love and strength and cheer;
Tender thoughts to guide them upward,
Words that know no touch of fear.

Oh! could we our thoughts but follow!
See the harm and good they do,
We would be more careful surely
To send the grand, the fine, the true."

Elenor L. Owens