I  suppose  somebody  must  have  the  rule — •

As  well  be  me  as  another.
The  Father  answers.
Oh,  Willie  !  it's  all  the  same  ;
They  are  your  brothers  all ;


WILLIE'S  QUESTION.  277

For  when  you  say,  "Hallowed  be  thy  name,"
Whose  Father  is  it  you  call  ?

Could  you  pray  for  such  rule  to  him  ?

Do  you  think  that  he  would  hear  ?
Must  he  favour  one  in  a  greedy  whim,

When  all  are  his  children  dear?

It  is  right  to  get  up  and  do  ;

But  why  outstrip  the  rest  ?
Why  should  one  of  the  many  be  one  of  the  few?

Why  should  you  think  to  be  best  ?


Willie  speaks.
Then  how  am  I  to  be  great  ?

I  know  no  other  way.
It  will  not  answer  to  sit  and  wait ;

I  must  up  and  do,  you  say.
278  POEMS  FOR   CHILDREN.
The  Father  annvers.
I  do  not  want  you  to  wait ;

For  few  before  they  die
Have  got  so  far  as  begin  to  be  great -

The  lesson  is  so  high.
1  will  tell  you  the  only  plan
To  climb  and  not  to  fall :

He  who  would  be  the  greatest  man
Must  be  the  servant  of  all.
If  you  turn  other  ways  your  mind —

To  work  on  some  shining  plan,
You  may  think  you  are  great,  but  will  come
to  find

You  are  not  even  a  man.
WILLIE'S  QUESTION.  279

Climb  to  the  top  of  the  trees,

Climb  to  the  top  of  the  hill,
Get  up  on  the  crown  of  the  sky  if  you  please,

You'll  be  a  small  creature  stilL

Be  admiral,  poet,  or  king,

Let  praises  fill  both  your  ears,
Your  soul  will  be  but  a  windmill  thing

Blown  round  by  its  hopes  and  fears.
