Speak kindly, then, kindly; there's nothing lost
By gentle words--to the heart and ear
Of joyous childhood, they're dear, how dear--
And they nothing cost.
Speak gently to age--a weary way
Is the rough and toilsome road of life,
As one by one its joys decay,
And its hopes go out 'mid its lengthened strife.
How often the word that is kindly spoken,
Will bind up the heart that is well nigh broken,
Then pass not the feeble and aged one
With a cold, and careless, and slighting tone;
But kindly, speak kindly; there's nothing lost
By gentle words--to the heart and ear
Of the care-worn and weary, they're dear, how dear--
And they nothing cost.
Speak kindly to those who are haughty and cold,
Ye know not the thoughts that are dwelling there;
Ye know not the feelings that struggle untold--
Oh, every heart hath its burden of care.
And the curl of the lip, and the scorn of the eye
Are often a bitter mockery,
When a bursting heart its grief would hide
From the eye of the world 'neath a veil of pride.
Speak kindly, then, kindly; there's nothing lost
By gentle words--to the heart and ear
Of the proud and haughty they're often dear,
And they nothing cost.
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