THE OBSTACLE
’Twas but a little thing that layAthwart my path that long-gone day,And yet I weakly let it lie,—Just turned aside and passed it by,Nor thought what the result might be.Then others came who saw my track,But no one moved the hindrance back,So they, too, stepped out on the sod;And many a weary foot has trodThe devious way first traced by me.We reach at last the self-same goal,But oh! the heaviness of soulThat overwhelms me when I lookOn those who chose the path I took.Lord, from the burden make me free!Nay, son; in weakness thou didst turn;And ever those who duty spurn,Who clear not obstacles away,Who cause men from the right to stray,The influence of their acts must see.Ida Louise Reveley.
’Twas but a little thing that layAthwart my path that long-gone day,And yet I weakly let it lie,—Just turned aside and passed it by,Nor thought what the result might be.Then others came who saw my track,But no one moved the hindrance back,So they, too, stepped out on the sod;And many a weary foot has trodThe devious way first traced by me.We reach at last the self-same goal,But oh! the heaviness of soulThat overwhelms me when I lookOn those who chose the path I took.Lord, from the burden make me free!Nay, son; in weakness thou didst turn;And ever those who duty spurn,Who clear not obstacles away,Who cause men from the right to stray,The influence of their acts must see.Ida Louise Reveley.
’Twas but a little thing that layAthwart my path that long-gone day,And yet I weakly let it lie,—Just turned aside and passed it by,Nor thought what the result might be.
’Twas but a little thing that lay
Athwart my path that long-gone day,
And yet I weakly let it lie,—
Just turned aside and passed it by,
Nor thought what the result might be.
Then others came who saw my track,But no one moved the hindrance back,So they, too, stepped out on the sod;And many a weary foot has trodThe devious way first traced by me.
Then others came who saw my track,
But no one moved the hindrance back,
So they, too, stepped out on the sod;
And many a weary foot has trod
The devious way first traced by me.
We reach at last the self-same goal,But oh! the heaviness of soulThat overwhelms me when I lookOn those who chose the path I took.Lord, from the burden make me free!
We reach at last the self-same goal,
But oh! the heaviness of soul
That overwhelms me when I look
On those who chose the path I took.
Lord, from the burden make me free!
Nay, son; in weakness thou didst turn;And ever those who duty spurn,Who clear not obstacles away,Who cause men from the right to stray,The influence of their acts must see.
Nay, son; in weakness thou didst turn;
And ever those who duty spurn,
Who clear not obstacles away,
Who cause men from the right to stray,
The influence of their acts must see.
Ida Louise Reveley.
Ida Louise Reveley.