Things Work Out

So bend to your trouble and meet your care,
For the clouds must break, and the sky grow fair.
Let the rain come down, as it must and will,
But keep on working and hoping still.
For in spite of the grumblers who stand about,
Somehow, it seems, all things work out.

The world has me down and it's keeping me there;
I don't get a chance. Oh, the world is unfair!
When a fellow is poor then he can't get a show;
The world is determined to keep him down low."

"What of Abe Lincoln?" I asked. "Would you say
That he was much richer than you are to-day?
He hadn't your chance of making his mark,
And his outlook was often exceedingly dark;
Yet he clung to his purpose with courage most grim
And he got to the top. Was the world against him?"

"What of Ben Franklin? I've oft heard it said
That many a time he went hungry to bed.
He started with nothing but courage to climb,
But patiently struggled and waited his time.
He dangled awhile from real poverty's limb,
Yet he got to the top. Was the world against him?

He was beaten from the start,
Beaten by his doubting heart,
And he had a ready ear
For the busy tongue of fear,
And he had a timid mind
Unto fretfulness inclined,
Filled with many reasons why
It was vain for him to try.

Given a task he'd shake his head,
"Can't do that!" he often said,
"Times are hard and none will stay,
Listening to the words I say.
It is futile now to try,
People simply will not buy!"
Thus he walked the streets of trade,
Both discouraged and afraid.

But another kind of man
Thought this way: "Perhaps I can!
If I will supply the pluck,
Fortune may provide the luck.
If I have the grit to try,
There are people who may buy;
Anyhow, I'll not submit
To defeat before I'm hit."