“’Tis not in mortals to command success,
  But we’ll do more, Sempronius,—­we’ll deserve it.”

    “All honor to him who shall win the prize,”
  The world has cried for a thousand years;
  But to him who tries, and who fails and dies,
  I give great honor and glory and tears;

    Give glory and honor and pitiful tears
  To all who fail in their deeds sublime;
  Their ghosts are many in the van of years,
  They were born with Time, in advance of Time.

    Oh, great is the hero who wins a name,
  But greater many and many a time
  Some pale-faced fellow who dies in shame,
  And lets God finish the thoughts sublime.

    And great is the man with a sword undrawn,
  And good is the man who refrains from wine;
  But the man who fails and yet still fights on,
  Lo, he is the twin-born brother of mine.

Joaquin Miller.

From “Joaquin Miller’s Complete Poems.”

HELPING’ OUT

“I always look out for Number One,” was the favorite remark of a man who thought he had found the great rule to success, but he had only stated his own doctrine of selfishness, and his life was never very successful.  A man must be big to succeed, and selfishness is always cramping and narrow.

  Da’s a lot of folks what preach all day
    An’ always pointing’ out de way,
  Dey say dat prayin’ all de time
    An’ keepin’ yo’ heart all full of rhyme
  Will lead yo’ soul to heights above
    Whah angels coo like a turtledove. 
  But I’s des lookin’ round, dat’s me—­
    I’s trustin’ lots in what I see;
  It ’pears to me da’s lots to do
    Befo’ we pass dat heavenly blue. 
  I believes in prayin’, preachin’ about,
    But believe a lot mo’ in helpin’ out.

  I believes in ’ligin, it’s mighty sweet,
    But de kind dat gits in yo’ hands and feet
  An’ makes you work when dey ain’t no praise,
    Nuthin’ but a heart dat’s all a-blaze. 
  If it rains or shines, dey’s des de same—­
    Say, bless you, honey, Sunshine’s dey name;
  Dey don’t fuss round ’bout how much pay
    But climbs up de trail, helpin’ all de way. 
  De load is often twice der size,
    And smilin’ is der biggest prize. 
  Dey never gits dis awful gout
    ‘Cause dey’s busy all de time in helpin’ out.

  We had an old mule on Massa’s place,
    As fo’ looks he’d certainly lose de race;
  But der wa’n’t a horse fo’ miles around
    Could pull mo’ load or plow mo’ ground. 
  An’ when dat donkey brayed his best,
    He seemed to know he’d licked de rest. 
  Dat bray of his was strong as wool—­
    It always come at de hardest pull. 
  We need mo’ mules with brains on guard
    Dat knos de game of pullin’ hard,
  An’ a heart dat’s tender, true and stout,
    Dat believes all day in helpin’ out.