Good Makes Good

If you are to be anything,

     A preacher or a clerk,

Or one who does the lowliest

     Of any kind of work,

What e’er the line of work you choose

     It must be understood,

That to compete with other hands

     You must be very good.

You must be a good carpenter,

     You must be a good clerk;

You must be good at anything

     You choose to call your work.

And then to be a workman good,

     At labor high and low,

You must be very good yourself,

     And everyone should know.

May 7, 1908