Both Sides

This world is all a fleeting show,
For Man’s illusion given;
The smiles of joy, the tears of woe,
Deceitful shins, deceitful flow;
There’s nothing true but Heaven.

– Tom. Moore


PER CONTRA.

This world is not a fleeting show,
For man’s illusion given;
He who hath soothed a widow’s woe,
Or dried and orphan’s tear, doth know
There’s something here of Heaven.

And he that walks life’s thorny way,
With feelings calm and even,
Whose path is lit from day to day
With virtue’s bright and steady ray
Hath something felt, of Heaven.

He that the Christian course hath Ran
And all his foes forgiven,
And measured out life’s little span
In love to God and love to man,
On earth has tasted Heaven.

– Published in the Stark County News, Toulon, Illinois, Thursday, August 11, 1864