"SET A STOUT HEART TO A. STEY BRAF."

Otago Witness, Issue 2529, 3 September 1902, Page 58

"SET A STOUT HEART TO A. STEY BRAF."

Aye set a stout heart to a stey brae, lad, an' manfully win yere way, Though the bracken grows rough an' briars gey sair, an' stanes wad yere footsteps stay ; Tho' the sun should beam wi' a ecorchin ray, or win's blaw fiercely strang; Or the rain doonpour till a'maist ye feel that your clagged feet canna gang, An' the mist» hang low, wi' a haze sac drear that ye' re ghffed in its awesome ciiill : "No light on ahead!" 'Tis true, my boy; yet it shines upon ac step still. Up, up through it a', though sair ye may be ferfaucheu at close o' day — Far sweeter they sleep who have bravely tolled than they who but idly play. Aye set a stout heart to a stey brae, lad, an' prayerfully win your way, Though troubles rise roou' ye on every han' an' ever your footsteps s>tay ; Though some may slight, an" lthers misjudge, ye will aye fin' leal i.nd true Fu' mony a heart that will kin'ly beat, an' han's that will aid you, too; An' hearts at hame will be mindin' you when they kneel to the Michty each day, An' askin' that He wad deed ye wi' niicht as ye warstle richt \ip the brae. Aye set a stout heart to a stey brae, lad, for gran' are the promises gi'en To -him that o'ercometh is promised a crown, an' raiment a' white an' clean. An' then there's sac niuckle to aid ye, lad, though never sac steep the brae A Rock that is Shelter frae ragin.' storm an Shade irae the sun's hot ray : A Tower o' Stren'th when your am atren th " fails— a Buckler an' Shield m ane; A Help aye present— a Stay an' Staff when ye canna gang yere lane. Nae ill shall befa', although ye may be ferfauchen at close o' day. Oh, sweetly they rest whom God ca 9 hame, a' weary wi' spielin' life's brae. — Marian Campbell Riddle. Orepuki, August, 1902.