Oh! Stay, dear child, one moment stay, before a word you
speak,
That can do harm in any way to the poor, or to the weak;
And never say of any one what you’d not have said of you,
Ere you ask yourself the question, “Is the accusation true?”
Yet even then be careful, very; pause and your words well
weigh,
And ask it it be necessary, what you’re about to say.
And should it necessary be, at least you deem it so,
Yet speak not unadvisedly of friend or even foe,
Till in your secret soul you seek for some excuse to find;
And ere the thoughtless word you speak, ask yourself, “Is it
kind?”
When you have ask’d these questions three: True, Necessary,
Kind,
Ask’d them in all sincerity, I think that you will find,
It is not hardship to obey the command of our Blessed Lord,
No ill of any man to say; No, not a single word. - Mary Ann
Pietzker
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