'Twer good what Meaester Collins spoke
O' spite to two poor spitevul vo'k,
When woone twold tother o' the two
"I be never the better vor zeen o' you."
If soul to soul, as Christians should,
Would always try to do zome good,
"How vew," he cried, "would zee our feaece
A-brighten'd up wi' smiles o' greaece,
An' tell us, or could tell us true,
I be never the better vor zeen o' you."
A man mus' be in evil ceaese
To live 'ithin a land o' greaece,
Wi' nothen that a soul can read
O' goodness in his word or deed;
To still a breast a-heav'd wi' sighs,
Or dry the tears o' weepen eyes;
To stay a vist that spite ha' wrung,
Or cool the het ov anger's tongue:
Or bless, or help, or gi'e, or lend;
Or to the friendless stand a friend,
An' zoo that all could tell en true,
"I be never the better vor zeen o' you."
Oh! no, mid all o's try to spend
Our passen time to zome good end,
An' zoo vrom day to day teaeke heed,
By mind, an' han', by word or deed;
To lessen evil, and increase
The growth o' righteousness an' peaece,
A-speaken words o' loven-kindness,
Openen the eyes o' blindness;
Helpen helpless striver's weakness,
Cheeren hopeless grievers' meekness,
Meaeken friends at every meeten,
Veel the happier vor their greeten;
Zoo that vew could tell us true,
"I be never the better vor zeen o' you."
No, let us even try to win
Zome little good vrom sons o' sin,
An' let their evils warn us back
Vrom teaeken on their hopeless track,
Where we mid zee so clear's the zun
That harm a-done is harm a-won,
An' we mid cry an' tell em true,
"I be even the better vor zeen o' you."