(Ill) 
strong And jnst as the Green Ear and stalk extract nutriment from the 
chemical substances of the earth, and by the gracious influences of rain and 
dew and sunshine, assimilate them, as we say; so it is for you to take all 
that is good and lovely—virtuous and beautiful—pnre and truthful— 
around you, and work them, weaving them as golden tissues into your 
being. Such is the existence that will be the useful and noble one in the 
world:—such the “green”—the ever-green “life hid with Christ in God.” 
“Patience hath a perfect work.”—St. James, i, 4. 
Be Patient and Be Strong. 
Be strong to-day; the world needs men 
Of nerve and muscle, heart and brain. 
To war for truth and conquer wrong. 
The fight is on; the foes combine; 
The order passes down the line: 
“ ’Quit you like men; be strong.” 
Be strong; the world has also need 
Of feet to ache and hearts to bleed, 
Burdens there are to bear along; 
But, though the end we may not see, 
’Tis not the meanest destiny 
To bear and to be strong. 
Be strong, but not in self. Go whence 
The breathing of Omnipotence 
Shall sweep the nerve-strings full and long; 
And from their impulse shall arise 
Those deep celestial harmonies 
That comfort and make strong. 
And Patience , too, must come to rest 
Within thy striving, throbbing breast 
That thinks to-morrow all too long— 
Thus filling out in breadth and length 
The perfect character—for strength 
Unbridled is not strong. 
