Better to smell the violet br Than sip the glowing wine; br Better to hearken to a brook br Than watch a diamond shine. br br Better to have a loving friend br Than ten admiring foes; br Better a daisy's earthy root br Than a gorgeous, dying rose. br br Better to love in loneliness br Than bask in love all day; br Better the fountain in the heart br Than the fountain by the way. br br Better be fed by mother's hand br Than eat alone at will; br Better to trust in God, than say, br My goods my storehouse fill. br br Better to be a little wise br Than in knowledge to abound; br Better to teach a child than toil br To fill perfection's round. br br Better to sit at some man's feet br Than thrill a listening state; br Better suspect that thou art proud br Than be sure that thou art great. br br Better to walk the realm unseen br Than watch the hour's event; br Better the br Well done, faithful slave br ! br Than the air with shoutings rent. br br Better to have a quiet grief br Than many turbulent joys; br Better to miss thy manhood's aim br Than sacrifice the boy's. br br Better a death when work is done br Than earth's most favoured birth; br Better a child in God's great house br Than the king of all the earth.