GOING DOWN HILL
You may not travel very fast
When first you've started down,
You may not stumble at the first
And fall and break your crown,
You may find only flowery slopes
So easy to descend;
But heed a warning voice, in time,
"Tis not so at the end.
When first you've started down,
You may not stumble at the first
And fall and break your crown,
You may find only flowery slopes
So easy to descend;
But heed a warning voice, in time,
"Tis not so at the end.
Steeper and steeper will become
The dark defiles before,
Faster and faster grow your speed
"Till you behold, no more,
The grassy slopes, the flowery glens,
The first bright shallow rill
You crossed, with such a buoyant tread,
When starting down the hill.
The dark defiles before,
Faster and faster grow your speed
"Till you behold, no more,
The grassy slopes, the flowery glens,
The first bright shallow rill
You crossed, with such a buoyant tread,
When starting down the hill.
You may be half way down, if so,
Just pause awhile and think,
'Twill be too late for thought, you know
When quaking on the brink
Of the great, awful precipice,
To which your footsteps tend,
You surely would retrace your steps
Could you but see the end.
Just pause awhile and think,
'Twill be too late for thought, you know
When quaking on the brink
Of the great, awful precipice,
To which your footsteps tend,
You surely would retrace your steps
Could you but see the end.
Though near the end, there may be hope
And help and safety still,
Stop! learn where you are standing now
On this great moral hill;
Ponder on all that's gained before
And all that's lost behind,
Turn back, and purer, clearer air
At each brave effort, find.
And help and safety still,
Stop! learn where you are standing now
On this great moral hill;
Ponder on all that's gained before
And all that's lost behind,
Turn back, and purer, clearer air
At each brave effort, find.
Help from a strong arm, reaching down
From Heaven, in mercy ask;
Remember every step you climb,
Easier grows your task.
Above you lie the flowery slopes
And sunny, taintless air;
Below, oh, stagnant, poisonous sloughs
And cruel rocks are there!
From Heaven, in mercy ask;
Remember every step you climb,
Easier grows your task.
Above you lie the flowery slopes
And sunny, taintless air;
Below, oh, stagnant, poisonous sloughs
And cruel rocks are there!
Yet though brave hearts may strive in time
To warn you, if you will,
In spite of friends and Heaven and sense,
You'll travel down the hill;
When mangled by your awful fall
Into a dark abyss,
Remember that a friendly voice
Warned you in time of this.
To warn you, if you will,
In spite of friends and Heaven and sense,
You'll travel down the hill;
When mangled by your awful fall
Into a dark abyss,
Remember that a friendly voice
Warned you in time of this.