Poems (Angier)/The Riddle Solved

by Annie Lanman Angier

THE RIDDLE SOLVED

I heard one marvel, and exclaim,—
 I wonder how he'll end!
To me it is no mystery,
 And why, I'll tell thee, friend.

The man who sows a field with wheat,
 Is sure to reap the same;
But if his harvest shall be tares;
 He has himself to blame.

Life hath two roads, they both are ours,
 To choose or to reject;
But ere the question he decides,
 A wise man will reflect.

As at the gate of Paradise
 An angel-guard was seen,
So conscience in the human breast
 Wields double sword, and keen.

And friendly guide-boards, too, abound,
 At every turn they stand;
To virtue, right—to vice and wrong,
 They point with steady hand.

The latter take, and time will prove
 The folly of thy choice;
But all who in the former walk,
 Shall in the end rejoice.

With honest purpose, heart sincere,
 Pure mind, and upright soul;
Speed for the Right, whate'er betide,
 And thou shalt win the goal.

If trial's thorny path we tread,
 With weary, wounded feet,
Our rest will all the sweeter be,
 When we our race complete.

To Duty's earnest, pleading voice,
 But lend a listening ear;
And gentle Peace shall solace thee
 With songs of hope and cheer.

Who live for others, and for God,
 A blessing shall attend;
Such find on earth true happiness,
 And Heaven will be their end.

But who for self and evil strive,
 Though high or low their state,
Shall live unloved, and die unmourned,
 And this must be their fate.

Now, should we hear a man exclaim,
 "I wonder how he'll end,"
These thoughts will help us each to solve
 The riddle for our friend.