Unknown "The Word"
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08413.23 Author/Creator: Unknown Place Written: Wausen, WI Type: Envelope Date: 1861-1877 Pagination: 1 envelope ; 13 x 8.3 cm. Order a Copy
features poem
[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
Oh call not this a vale of tears,
A world of gloom and sorrow;
One half the grief that o'er us comes
From self we often borrow.
The earth is beautiful and good:
How long will man mistake it?
The folly is within ourselves:
The world is what we make it.
Did we but strive to make the best
Of troubles that befall us,
Instead of meeting cares half-way,
They would not so appal us.
Earth has a spell for loving hearts:
Why should we seek to break it?
Let's scatter flowers instead of thorns-
The world is what we make it.
If truth and love and gentle words,
We took the pains to nourish,
The seeds of discontent would die,
And peace and concord flourish:
Oh, has not each some kindly thought?
Then let's at once awake it,
Beleiving that, for good or ill,
The world is what we make it.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.