The Coasting Hill

Pray let your fancies run tonight

     Back to the long ago,

Back to the hill where you and Bill

     Down o’er the glistening snow

Went flying, full of boyish glee,

     Upon the swift old sled,

Hallooing loud unto the crowd,

     As down the track you sped.

And then you hurried up again,

     Bill puffing by your side,

With pulse aflow, and cheeks aglow,

     To have another slide.

And then how easily you went

Down, down the glistening track,

But O, how slow you found it, though,

     When you came toiling back!

It’s just as easy sliding down

     The devil’s coasting hill;

He’s greased the track, and to get back

     Takes much of strength and will.

But if you show the eagerness

     You showed in days gone past,

With Truth and right you’ll storm the height,

     And reach reward at last.

Nov. 14, ‘99