Pebbles and Shells (Hawkes collection)/True Riches
TRUE RICHES
Man is the mighty arbiter of fate, The prince of power, of pleasure and of art; From out himself he rules the human heart,And fills his little world with love or hate.The poor man stands beside the rich man's gate And wonders if a mansion in the skies Could give more pleasure to his hungry eyes,The owner grumbles o'er his broad estate.
It is not what we have that gives content,But what we give unto another's need—The nude we clothe, the hungry that we feed, And if we want above what Heaven hath sent. The rich man's gold shall make him doubly poor If beggars turn them hungry from his door.