Where Duty Lies.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1183, 26 September 1885, Page 6

Where Duty Lies.

Do we heed the homely adase, handed down

from days of yore, 11 Ere you sweep your neighbour's dwelling, clear the rubbish from your door," Let no filth, no rust there gather— leave no traces of deoay — Pluck up every word unsightly, brush the fallen leaves away ? If we faithfully have laboured thus to sweep without, within, Pluoked up envy, evil-speaking, malice, each besetting sin, Weeds that by the sacred portals of the inner tenfple grow, Poisonous weeds the heart defiling, bearing bitterness and woe ; ! Then, psrehance, we may have leisure o'er our neighbour watch to keep; All the work assigned us finished, we before his door may sweep ; Show him where the mossea clinging— tokens ever of decay ; Where the thistles, tbMly springing, daily must be cleared away. Bui;, alas ! our work neglecting, oft we mount the judgment seat, With his failings, his omissions, we our weary brother greet ; - In some hidden nook forgotten, searching with a careful eye, We the springing weeds disoover— some slight blemish there descry. For his eigUtfulneßS, his blinclneßß, we our brother harshly ohide ; Glorying in our strength and wisdom, we condemn him in our pride ; Ask not why he has neglected thus before his door to sweep, j Why grown careless, hehaa slumbered, failed j hid garden plot to keep. On the judgment seat still sitting, we no j helping hand extend To assist our weaker brother his shortcomings , to amend ; For his weariness, hia faltering, we no sweet compassion show ; From our store no cordial bring him, no en. couragements bestow. But while busied with our neighbour, urging him in oeaseles care, Calling to the thoughtless idlers to their labour to repair, Lo S unseen, the dust has gathered, weeds are growing where of yore Flowerets rare and sweet were blooming when we swept before our door. Ah ! how easy o'er oar brother faithful ward and watch to keep; But, alas 1 before our dwelling bard indeed - to. daily sweep; Harder than to share the. conflict, "by the stuff' at home to..stay— Easier far to sit in judgment than to humbly watoh and pray.