Poems (Curwen)/The Mission of the Children's Chain

by Annie Isabel Curwen

The Mission of the Children's Chain.

LIVERPOOL COURIER.

To sow the seeds of sympathy,
 To foster thoughts of kindliness
In little hearts that else might be
 Warped by pride and selfishness;
Young feet to guide, young souls to train,
Is the mission of the Children's Chain.

Old age, alas! is often made
 The butt of ridicule and fun;
The tottering steps, the hoary head,
 Too oft have little reverence shown:
The Links who join this Chain engage
To show due reverence to age.

The poor, the patient poor, who bear
 Their weary burdens day by day,
With toilworn hands, oft badly fare—
 Being rudely jostled on life's rough way:
Links who would Dame Durden please
Kind courtesy must shew to these.

The weak and suffering who lie
 Throughout the long monotonous day,
Oft for a word of comfort sigh,
 From those who pass so near their way:
Links who form this golden chain
Are pledged to sympathise with pain.

To cheer the suffering, aid the weak,
 To feel for others in distress;
And all the dumb creation seek
 To treat with love and gentleness:
These are the virtues we would train,
These are the rules of the Children's Chain.

O, little Links! the world has need
 Of all the good that you can do;
O, little hearts! to you I plead
 Ever to these resolves be true;
And let your every action prove
The mission of our Chain is Love.

Surely this world will be the brighter
 For little seeds of kindness sown,
And many a troubled heart be lighter
 For kind words spoken, or good deeds done;
And though years roll on there will remain
The influence of the Children's Chain.